Box Score Box Score

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV – Troy Foster (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI, including the game-tying run-scoring single in the top of the ninth to tie the game as the Crimson Hawks finished their weekend Ram Invitational at Shepherd University with a 4-4 tie with Lock Haven on Sunday.

The game ended after nine innings due to darkness.

Falling down 4-1 after the sixth inning, IUP started a two-out rally in the seventh, getting back-to-back singles by Dylan Tice (Perkasie/Pennridge) and Cory Sawka (Uniontown/Uniontown) to put runners on first and second. The rally ended quickly though as Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) flew out to right field, leaving the runners on.

The Crimson Hawks would get one of those runs back, however, in the eighth as Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) led off with a walk before advancing to second on a Foster single to center. A wild pitch moved both runners up one spot without any outs. After a pitching change and strikeout, Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) grounded out to short, scoring Mike to make the score 4-2. Another walk put runners at the corners with two down, but the threat for more runs ended when John Beatty (New Castle/Mohawk) was thrown out at second trying to steal.

Lock Haven would get two runners on in the bottom half with no outs, before Austin Mock (State College/State College) entered the game on the mound and got three straight outs, ending the inning.

The Crimson Hawks ninth started with a groundout before a Tice single to right field put the first runner on. Two batters and one out later Zinsmeister singled to right, putting two runners on with two down. Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) knocked another single to right, bringing home Tice and putting runners at the corners. Foster's hit came next as Zinsmeister crossed the plate, tying the game. They couldn't pull ahead though as a fly out to center ended the inning.

A single and a sacrifice put a runner in scoring position for Lock Haven in the bottom half before a walk put two runners on with just one out. Mock then got out number two with a strikeout before picking off the lead runner to end the game.

Mock pitched the last two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one to finish a very successful weekend on the mound. Evan Phillips (Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township) started the game for IUP, going 5.2 innings and giving up two earned on eight hits, striking out a pair.

The Crimson Hawks collected 11 hits, getting two each from Tice and Sawka in addition to Foster's four.

IUP (3-4-1) will be on the road next weekend in Georgia for games against Waldorf College and Young Harris College.