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CLERMONT, FL - Ashley Strack (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) had a homer and two RBI in game one as the IUP softball team split a pair of games at the National Training Center (NTC) Spring Games Wednesday. The Crimson Hawks downed the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) 6-3 in game one before falling to Minnesota Duluth 4-3 in game two.

IUP 6, NYIT 3

The Crimson Hawks used the long ball en route a victory in game one, as three different IUP players popped homers in the win.

Trailing 2-0 in the third and with Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge) stationed at first, Jasa Mitchell (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) belted a home run to center to knot it at 2-2. The Crimson Hawks would take the lead just three batters later when Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson) singled to score Stef Poates (Yorktown, VA/Grafton).

Meghan Carney (Corry/Corry) was the second Crimson Hawk to go yard, blasting a solo shot in the fourth to give IUP a 4-2 lead. Strack would join in on the act in the sixth, nailing a two-run home run to give the Crimson Hawks a commanding 6-3 lead.

The three run advtange would be more than enough for IUP hurler Tara Senn (Eagle/Downington East), who scattered just six hits and fanned one in a complete game effort.

MINNESOTA DULUTH 4, IUP 3

After a scoreless first, the Bulldogs broke through in the second with two runs thanks to a Megan Mullen home run. Minnesota Duluth would tack on another run fourth on a Kierra Jeffers homer to take a 3-0 lead, but the Crimson Hawks would punch back.

IUP posted a trio of runs off of Mullen in the bottom of the sixth to knot it 3-3 heading into the seventh. The game would not stay tied for long, however, as an RBI single from Jeffers plated the go-ahead run.

The Crimson Hawks had one final chance at a rally in the bottom half of the frame, but reliever Cayli Sadler retired the side in order to seal the win for the Bulldogs.

IUP tallied just five hits in the game, while Minnesota Duluth notched 10 hits as a team. Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) took the loss for the Crimson Hawks, allowing four runs in seven innings.

 The Crimson Hawks continue the NTC Spring Games tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader against Slippery Rock and Merrimack. IUP takes the field against the Rock at 1:00 p.m. while first pitch with Merrimack is slated for 3:00 p.m.