Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CLARION, PA - Pitchers Kelly King (Nazareth/Bethlehem Catholic) and Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge) combined for 12 shutout innings while IUP batters had six extra-base hits on the day as the Crimson Hawks took two from Clarion in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division softball doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

The Crimson Hawks won game one 10-0 in five innings and shutout Clarion in game two 5-0 to advance to 18-10-1 on the year, 5-3 in the division.

IUP scored runs in each of the first four innings of game one while King scattered five hits in five innings for the easy win. The scoring got going in the first when Ashley Strack (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) singled, bringing Tara Waldo (Pittsburgh/Baldwin) and Megan McCormick (Evans City/Seneca Valley) across the plate to put IUP up 2-0.

Three runs came across in the second for the Crimson Hawks, as Christi Mauk (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) and Meghan Carney (Corry/Corry) each walked to lead off the inning. Jen Beaver (Chester Springs/Owen J. Roberts) then moved both up, loading the bases in the process with a sacrifice bunt, reaching first on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, Monica Iachini (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) brought home the first run with a bases loaded walk before McCormick singled to right, scoring Beaver and Carney to give IUP a 5-0 lead.

Two more runs came across in the third, as the Crimson Hawks took advantage of a Clarion miscue. With one down, Mauk walked and two batters later with two outs, Beaver smacked a double. Mauk would score from first, beating the throw from the outfield as Beaver moved up to third. She'd then cross the plate on an error by the shortstop as IUP's lead went to seven.

After another 1-2-3 Clarion third, McCoy gave the Crimson Hawks an 8-0 lead with an RBI single bringing around Taylor Rozantz (Fairview/Fairview) who was pinch running for Waldo. After McCoy stole second to put her and Strack in scoring position, Mauk crushed a double to right center, scoring both and putting IUP on top 10-0.

King would finish off the Golden Eagles in the final two innings to post her 13th complete game and eight shutout of the season to move to 11-5.

IUP tallied nine hits in game one, with eight different players contributing. Strack finished 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI while McCormick also knocked in two runs.

It would be a little different in game two as the Crimson Hawks remained hitless until the third inning when Marissa Leslie (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) led off with a triple to left. Two batters later McCormick flew out to center, scoring Leslie to make it 1-0.

McCoy, who started in the circle in game two, kept up her end as she gave up three hits over the first four innings to keep Clarion scoreless.

The Crimson Hawks picked up two more runs in the fifth, as an error by the center fielder allowed Leslie to advance to second. Iachini singled, moving Leslie to third, and then stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Another botched play by Clarion allowed Leslie to score on the next batter, as Iachini moved up to third and McCormick reached first. Waldo would then ground out to second, scoring Iachini and finishing up the scoring.

After McCoy threw another scoreless inning for IUP, errors by the Golden Eagles would again prove costly, as an mistake by the pitcher allowed Kaylee Prendergast (West Chester/Villa Maria Academy) to reach first on a sacrifice bunt, scoring Carney. She would then promptly steal second and then scored when Beaver tripled to right center.

King then stepped back into the circle for the Crimson Hawks in the final two innings, allowing just one hit but more importantly no runs as the Crimson Hawks picked up the 5-0 win.

McCoy got the win to move to 2-0 on the year as she struck out thre and gave up four hits and one walk in five innings pitched. King picked up her second save.

The Crimson Hawks had just five hits, but four were for extra bases as Amanda Segrist (Glenwood, MD/Glenelg) had a double and Leslie, Waldo and Beaver all had triples.

IUP moves to 18-10-1 on the year and into second place in the PSAC Central with a 5-3 mark. Next up for the Crimson Hawks is division-leading Lock Haven next Tuesday on the road.