Box Score

INDIANA, PA - Despite an excellent performance from the pitching staff, including four scoreless innings from starter Ben Weimer (New Alexandria/Linsly School), the IUP baseball team could only muster five hits in a 3-2 loss to Pitt-Greensburg in nine innings on Wednesday. The Crimson Hawks scored both of their runs in the fourth inning, but a three-run seventh for the Bobcats proved to be the difference.

After three scoreless innings, IUP finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning when John Beatty (New Castle/Mohawk) smacked an RBI double to left field that scored Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown). Brother Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) would come around to score just two pitches later on a wild pitch to give the Crimson Hawks a 2-0 lead.

After four shutout innings from Weimer, Christian Wolosik (Pittsburgh/North Catholic) took the mound and did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings to keep the IUP lead intact.

The Crimson Hawks' edge would not hold, however, as Pitt-Greensburg would rally in the seventh. After Dylin Brooks manufactured a two-out run thanks to a pair of IUP errors, Dan Moyer would walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Bryan Colish would not miss his opportunity, crushing a two-run homer to right center field to give the Bobcats a 3-2 lead after seven.

IUP would have a chance to answer right back in the bottom-half of the inning when Cory Sawka (Uniontown/Uniontown) walked, Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) reached on an error and Dylan Tice (Perkasie/Pennridge) singled to load the bases with no outs, but Pitt-Greensburg pitcher Matt Kloos retired the next three batters in order to preserve the one-run lead.

Kloos would allow just one base runner in the next two innings to seal the win for the Bobcats.

Beatty went 1-for-4 with an RBI for the Crimson Hawks, while Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Jared Weed (Washington Crossing/Council Rock North) pitched two strong shutout innings in relief as well, allowing just two hits and striking out one.

The Crimson Hawks return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action this weekend when they take on Slippery Rock. IUP will host the Rock in a doubleheader this Friday at Dougherty Field. First Pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.