Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

INDIANA, PA – Despite posting six runs in game one, the IUP baseball team was unable to hold off Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West foe Clarion, dropping a pair of games to the Golden Eagles on Saturday.

The Crimson Hawks strung together a four-run fourth inning to take control in game one, but Clarion responded with five runs in the fifth to take game one 8-6.

After a scoreless first, IUP drew first blood when Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) scored off an error in the second inning. The Golden Eagles would answer with two runs in the third when Jon Kemmer doubled home a pair of runs and another run in the top of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.

The lead would be short-lived, however, as the Crimson Hawks would explode for four runs in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead. Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) started the inning with an RBI single to left field that scored Dylan Songer (Baden/North Allegheny), and brother Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) would follow with a triple to left that plated two more runs. Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) would come around to score just a batter later on a John Beatty (New Castle/Mohawk) RBI groundout, but the Golden Eagles would respond in a big way.

Clarion posted five runs in the fifth inning to take an 8-5 lead and rip momentum away from IUP. Josh Beimel had the big hit in the inning for the Golden Eagles when he nailed a double that brought home a pair of runs.

IUP would look to put together a rally in the seventh when Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) scored off of a Songer RBI single, but Clarion closer Kevin Gnacinski would work out of the jam and record the save for the Golden Eagles.

Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored in game one, while Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Jared Weed (Washington Crossing/Council Rock North) was excellent in relief for IUP, hurling two shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts.

Clarion would continue its winning ways early game two, pouncing on the Crimson Hawks for five runs in the first inning.  IUP would begin to chip away in the third when Dylan Tice (Perkasie/Pennridge) scored on a wild pitch, but the Golden Eagles would tack on two more runs in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead after four.

The Crimson Hawks would add a run in sixth when Ryan Uhl (St. Marys/St. Marys)  knocked in Zinsmeister with a single to right center, but Clarion pitcher Brandon Slater proved to be too much in game two, allowing just the two earned runs on seven hits in the complete game effort.

Uhl was 2-for-3 in game two with an RBI, while Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) went 2-for-3 as well. Kyle Zaorski (Reading/Muhlenberg) tossed three scoreless innings in relief for the Crimson Hawks.

IUP falls 17-20-1, 5-11 in the PSAC West with the losses. The Crimson Hawks are right back at it tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader against Millersville at Dougherty Field. First pitch in game one is set for 1:00 p.m.