Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, PA - The Crimson Hawks banged out 14 hits in game one, scoring four runs in the final three innings for a 6-4 victory as IUP split a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division baseball doubleheader with Gannon, falling 2-1 in game two on Saturday afternoon. The split was the second straight in the weekend series as IUP took two of the four games from the Golden Knights, who lead the division.

The Golden Knights (20-14, 10-6) got the scoring started in the bottom of the first in game one with an RBI single, one of two hits for Gannon in the inning. That would be the only run given up by IUP starter Craig Hibell (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley) in the first five stanzas, as he scattered six hits and struck out eight batters in 5.2 innings of work.

The Crimson Hawks (16-17-1, 4-8) took the lead in third, getting things started with a one-out single by Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn). A Dylan Tice (Perkasie/Pennridge) bunt single put two aboard before a groundout by Dylan Songer (Baden/North Allegheny) put a pair of runners in scoring position with two down. Troy Foster (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) then took advantage of those two runners with a single up the middle, scoring both Zinsmeister and Tice as IUP went ahead 2-1.

Foster helped the Crimson Hawks pull ahead 3-1 two innings later in the fifth with another base hit to up the center of the diamond, scoring Tice from second base.

Austin Mock (State College/State College) led off the IUP sixth inning with a single, advancing to second on an error in the outfield, and then moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by David McNeill (Pittsburgh/Our Lady of Sacred Heart). The Crimson Hawks then took advantage of an error by a brand new pitcher as Cory Sawka (Uniontown/Uniontown) reached, scoring Mock from third to put IUP in front by a 4-1 count.

Gannon got a pair of runs back in the bottom half, as Hibell and reliever Christian Wolosik (Pittsburgh/North Catholic) combined for one hit but two walks and two hit batters as the Golden Knights made it a 4-3 ball game.

IUP came back in the seventh as Tice led off with a walk and then scored when Songer doubled to right center. Two batters later, Ryan Uhl (St. Marys/St. Marys) singled to center to score Songer, helping the Crimson Hawks to a three-run lead heading into the final half inning.

Mock took the mound in the seventh for IUP, but gave up back-to-back singles to put a pair of runners on. After a flyout, an error loaded the bases for Gannon as the Golden Knights got a sacrifice fly the next batter to make it a 6-4 game. Mock closed it out though, getting the final batter to pop out, preserving the win.

Every batter for the Crimson Hawks had at least one hit, while Zinsmeister, Tice, Foster, Uhl and Mock each had two. Foster drove in three runs while Tice crossed the plate three times.

Hibell improved to 2-2 on the year with the win.

The Golden Knights again started the scoring in game two as an infield single allowed the first run of the game to cross the plate. The game would then see three-and-a-half scoreless innings before Gannon added another, scoring on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning to make it a 2-0 game.

The Crimson Hawks had plenty of chances to score throughout the entire game but were not able to take advantage, leaving 12 runners stranded, including 11 in the first six innings and the potential game-tying run in the seventh.

IUP loaded the bases in the second, getting three straight singles from Mock, Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) and Brett Quiggle (Weedville/St. Marys) to open the inning, but none were able to move up two bases. Even with the bases loaded an no one out, IUP could not take advantage, as Gannon got a strike out, got Mock out at home, and got a flyout to end the threat.

The Crimson Hawks started a rally in the seventh, with Foster knocking a one-out double to left. Uhl then singled up the middle, scoring John Beatty (New Castle/Mohawk), who was pinch running for Foster, to make it a 2-1 game. That would be as far as the Crimson Hawks could go though, as Gannon got a flyout and groundout, ending the threat and finishing off the game for the Golden Knights.

IUP put up 11 base knocks in game two, out-hitting Gannon 25-12 on the day. Tice and Uhl each went 2-for-4 as nine players had a hit for the Crimson Hawks.

Matt Szukics (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) started on the hill for IUP, picking up the loss to drop to 2-2 after giving up four hits and striking out three in 4.2 innings of work. Mock came in a threw the final 1.1 innings, striking out one and didn't allow a baserunner.