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SALEM, VA - Stef Poates (Yorktown, VA/Grafton) and Jen Beaver (Chester Springs/Owen J. Roberts) each blasted three run homers to power the IUP softball team to a split at the Atlantic Region Challenge Sunday.

The Crimson Hawks led 2-1 late in game one, but a three-run fifth inning propelled Fairmont State to a 4-3 win in the morning contest. IUP would respond in a big way, however, downing UMass Lowell 7-5 in game two.

Fairmont State 4, IUP 3

After trading runs in the first inning, The Crimson Hawks would take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Kaylee Prendergast (West Chester/Villa Maria Academy) smacked a two-out single that plated Meghan Carney (Corry/Corry).

The lead would be shortlived, however, as Fairmont would plate a trio of unearned runs in the top of fifth to take a 4-2 lead. IUP would mount a late rally in the seventh when a Christy Mauk double scored Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn) to trim the deficit to one, but the Falcons would work out of the jam.

Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) posted seven strong innings in the circle for the Crimson Hawks, giving up just one earned run with six strikeouts. Mauk was 2-for-4 from the plate with an RBI double, while Prendergast and Beaver each went 1-for-3 with a run batted in. Ward was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.

IUP 7, UMass Lowell 5

Trailing 4-0 heading into the bottom of the third, Poates blasted a three run homer to slice the deficit to just one. The shot was the first on the year for Poates, who missed all but 14 games due to an injury last season.

UMass Lowell would tack on another run the fourth to extend the lead to two, but Beaver would answer a three-run home run of her own to give the Crimson Hawks a 6-5 lead after four.

IUP would add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when a Jasa Mitchell (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) sacrifice fly plated Prendergast, and the two run advantage would be more than enough for Campbell. The sophomore entered in the sixth inning and tossed two scoreless frames en route to her first save of the year.

Tara Senn (Eagle/Downington East) tallied the win for the Crimson Hawks, notching a trio of strikeouts and just two walks in five innings of work. Poates and Beaver each finished with three RBI in game two, while Mitchell finished with a hit and an RBI.

The Crimson Hawks travel to Clermont, FL on Tuesday for the National Training Center Spring Games. IUP will take on Shippensburg at 3:00 p.m. before facing Slippery Rock in the evening at 5:00 p.m.