Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA – Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in game two as the IUP baseball split a doubleheader with Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West rival Slippery Rock Sunday. The Crimson Hawks' seventh inning rally wasn't enough in a 5-3 loss in game one, but IUP responded with a come-from-behind 7-6 win in game two.

Slippery Rock would draw first blood in game one when Derek Carr manufactured a run after reaching on a walk in the first inning. The Rock would add another run in the third when John Shaffer knocked in Carr to take a 2-0 lead.

IUP would answer in the bottom half of the third when Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) smacked an RBI double to cut the lead in half, but Slippery Rock would extend its lead in the sixth. The Rock scored three runs in the inning thanks to a single from Jamison Walck that scored two runs and an RBI single from Graeme Zaparzynski to take a 5-1 lead into the seventh.

The Crimson Hawks would rally in the bottom of the frame when Dylan Songer (Baden/North Allegheny) nailed an RBI double down the left field line and Lupia followed with a run-scoring single up the middle, but Rock starting pitcher Lou Trivino would work out of the jam and preserve the complete game win for Slippery Rock.

Songer was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in game one, while Zinsmeister went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored as well. Craig Hibell (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley) toed the rubber for IUP in game one and allowed just two earned runs on three hits in 4.1 innings of work.

Game two was a different story for the Crimson Hawks, who jumped on The Rock for two first inning runs to take early control. Lupia would plate the first run with a single that scored Zinsmeister, and brother Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) would add the second run of the inning when he worked a bases-loaded walk to force home Songer.

The lead would be short-lived, however, as Slippery Rock would explode for six runs over the next two innings to take a commanding 6-2 lead. Will Kengor had the big hit in the five-run second inning when he roped a single down the right field line that scored a pair of runs.

The Crimson Hawks would punch back in the top of the third when Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) singled home Songer to cut the deficit to just three. Dan McNeill would pull IUP to within two just one batter later when he laced single that plated Troy Foster (Shamong, NJ/Seneca).

After adding a run in the fourth when Zinsmeister scored on a Songer groundout, the Crimson Hawks completed the comeback in the sixth when Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) crushed an RBI double to left field to tie the game at 6-6. IUP would take the lead on the very next batter when Ryan Uhl (St. Marys/St. Marys)'s sacrifice fly allowed Songer to tag up and come home.

The Rock still had two innings to put together a scoring opportunity, but IUP reliever Brett Quiggle (Weedville/St. Marys) erased any plans of a comeback and sealed the split for the Crimson Hawks. Quiggle was marvelous in game two, allowing just one hit in 5.2 scoreless innings.

Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) was 3-for-4 with two RBI in game two, while Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) was 1-for-1 with a pair of RBI and two walks. Songer went 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and three runs scored, and Zinsmeister chipped in three runs scored as well.

With the split, the Crimson Hawks are now 21-23, 7-13 in the PSAC West entering the final week of the regular season. IUP will host Shippensburg this Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. before closing out the regular season with a weekend series with Lock Haven.