Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MANSFIELD, PA – In a battle of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central contenders, Kelly King (Nazareth/Bethlehem Catholic) and the IUP softball team delivered a pair of big wins at Mansfield Saturday. King allowed just one run in a 2-1 win in game one and got some help from the offense in a 5-3 victory in game two.

Mansfield pitcher Kate Pratt was excellent in the circle in game one, but the Crimson Hawks managed to scratch out a pair of runs in the third inning that would prove to be enough for King, who struck out six and gave up just four hits in the complete-game effort.

The Crimson Hawks notched their first run in the third when Jen Beaver (Chester Springs/Owen J. Roberts) scored off of a Megan McCormick (Evans City/Seneca Valley) sacrifice fly, and Jasa Mitchell (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) would follow with an RBI double to left center that plated Monica Iachini (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel).

The Mountaineers would cut the lead in half in the bottom of the seventh when Danielle Long smacked a two-out homer to left center field, but King would retire the next batter to seal the win and cap a phenomenal pitching performance.

Iachini was 2-for-3 with a run scored in game one, while Beaver was 1-for-3 with a run scored as well. Both McCormick and Mitchell knocked in runs for the Crimson Hawks, but their days would be far from over.

They both picked up right where they left off in game two, when McCormick smacked an RBI double and Mitchell followed with a double that plated McCormick to give the Crimson Hawks a 2-0 lead after one.

McCormick would deliver once again in the top of the third inning when she drilled a two-run homer over the right field wall to give IUP a 4-0 lead, but the Mountaineers would begin to chip away in the fourth when Pratt belted a homer to pull Mansfield within three.

After an RBI single from Ashley Strack (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) gave IUP a 5-1 lead after six innings, the Mountaineers looked to rally in the seventh. Chara Dixon scored on a wild pitch to cut the Crimson Hawks lead to just three, and Long would score just a batter later on a Kaitlyn Harris RBI groundout to trim the lead to 5-3 with two away.

With the lead at just two and momentum on the side of Mansfield, King would answer the call in the clutch once again, working out of the jam and securing a huge sweep for the Crimson Hawks.

King allowed three earned runs on just five hits and struck out four in game two, while McCormick went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Mitchell was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Strack was 2-for-3 with an RBI as well.

With the sweep the Crimson Hawks are now 22-12-1, 9-5 in the tight PSAC Central, while the Mountaineers fall to 19-12, 7-7 in the division. IUP returns home this Friday for a central division doubleheader with Clarion at Podbielski Field. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m.