Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

INDIANA, PA – Stephen Cooke (Severn, MD/Archbishop Curley) scattered just five hits and fanned seven batters in a complete game shutout as the IUP baseball team downed Gannon 2-0 in game one of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West doubleheader Friday. The Golden Knights would respond, however, defeating IUP 6-1 in game two.

Despite Cooke's marvelous performance all game, Gannon had an opportunity to strike first blood in the top of the fifth inning when Kyle Harpster singled with a runner in scoring position, but Harpster was picked off trying to get back to first after a wide turn before the run could come home.

With the scoreless tie preserved, the Crimson Hawks would take advantage in the bottom half of the inning. Dylan Tice (Perkasie/Pennridge) led off with a double to right field, and after Cory Sawka (Uniontown/Uniontown) advanced Tice to third with a sacrifice bunt, Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) roped a single to score Tice and give IUP a 1-0 lead.

The Crimson Hawks would tack on another run in the sixth when Ryan Uhl (St. Marys/St. Marys) smacked a double to plate Troy Foster (Shamong, NJ/Seneca), and two runs would be more than enough for Cooke. He struck out two in the top of the seventh to seal the win and extend his current streak of 18.1 scoreless innings pitched dating back to March 23.

Gannon would seek retribution in game two, however, posting a pair of runs in the first to take an early 2-0 lead. Michael Tomko singled in the Golden Knights first run and Evan Baglieri followed with another RBI single.

After a Nico Baldelli homer gave Gannon a 3-0 lead in the fourth, IUP looked to put together a rally in the bottom of the inning. Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) and Tice both walked to put two on with one out, and after an IUP fly out, Sawka also worked a walk to load the bases with two away. The Crimson Hawks were unable to capitalize however, as Matt Tobin got out of the jam and kept the three run lead intact.

The Golden Knights would post two more runs in the fifth when Tomko and Baglieri both knocked in runs, and Baldelli would cap a strong offense outing for Gannon with an RBI single in the top of the seventh.

IUP would get on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Sawka scored on an Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) sacrifice fly, but the Crimson Hawks rally fell short. Sawka was 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in game two, while Tice was 1-for-2 with a walk.

With the split, the Crimson Hawks record now stands at 15-16-1, 3-7 in the PSAC West heading into tomorrow's doubleheader at Gannon. First pitch for tomorrow's game one is set for 1:00 p.m.