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INDIANA, PA – Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge) finished off a seventh inning IUP comeback in game one as her RBI single to right scored Kaylee Prendergast (West Chester/Villa Maria Academy), as the Crimson Hawks took the opener 5-4 before shutting down Shepherd 5-1 in game two of a non-conference softball doubleheader at Podbielski Field on Wednesday afternoon.

The game-winner was the third run of the inning as the Crimson Hawks entered the seventh down 4-2 to the Rams (13-12).

With one out, Marissa Leslie (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) singled to center before Megan McCormick (Evans City/Seneca Valley) walked on four pitches to put two runners on. Jasa Mitchell (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) then singled to left, driving home Leslie to make it a 4-3 game. Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn) then doubled to left center, nearly ending the game herself as the ball hit the fence on the fly, bringing home McCormick and advancing Mitchell to third to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Pinch running for Mitchell, Prendergast jumped off the bag on the hit by McCoy, crossing the plate to end the game.

Shepherd had jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning, as a bases loaded double provided the scoring. The Rams would also carry a no-hitter to the fifth inning until Leslie poked an infield single with two down. McCormick then followed that up with a double to right center, scoring Leslie to make it a 3-1 game.

The Rams tacked on another run in the sixth before the Crimson Hawks made it a 4-2 game in the bottom half on an Ashley Strack (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) single to center, which brought home Ward.

Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) started in the circle in that game one win, getting her seventh complete game of the year by scattering six hits over seven innings, striking out a pair as none of the four runs that crossed the plate were earned. The win moves her to 5-3 on the year.

The Crimson Hawks totaled seven hits in the opener, with Leslie going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs.

Shepherd again tried to jump on top early in game two, getting one run on two hits, including an RBI single in the top of the first.

IUP countered with a run of its own in the bottom of the second, as Ward started things off with a single. Ward would move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tara Waldo (Pittsburgh/Baldwin) and then promptly steal third before Strack drove her in with a single to right center, tying the game at 1-1.

The Crimson Hawks picked up two more in the third, getting a pair of hits but also taking advantage of two errors by Shepherd. With Monica Iachini (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) and Leslie at the corners, McCormick would knock one to right center, scoring both.

IUP added two more insurance runs in the fifth inning, with McCormick at it again with an RBI single up the middle, bringing home Iachini and Leslie to make it 5-1.

Starter Kelly King (Nazareth/Bethlehem Catholic) settled down after the Rams first inning run, allowing just four more hits over the rest of the game, striking out three and walking none to earn the complete game win and move to 4-3 on the year.

IUP had 10 hits as a team, with four players getting each getting a pair including McCormick who went 2-for-3 with four RBI. Iachini, Leslie and Strack also had two hits apiece.

The Crimson Hawks (10-6-1) open up Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division play on Friday as they host Lock Haven at 2:30 p.m.