Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CLARION, PA – The Crimson Hawks belted four homeruns and gave up just 10 hits in two games as IUP swept Clarion in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central softball doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.

IUP won game won 7-3 and game two 9-1, forcing a six-inning mercy rule.

Ashley Strack (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) smacked a solo homer in game one while Stef Poates (Yorktown, VA/Grafton), Stef McCoy and Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn) went yard in game two.

The Crimson Hawks put up four runs in the first two innings, including RBI base hits from Poates, Ward, Jen Beaver (Chester Springs/Owen J. Roberts) and Christi Mauk (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel). IUP added three more runs in the fourth and fifth innings, including that homerun by Strack, to jump on top 7-0.

Tara Senn (Eagle/Downington East) started and went the first three innings without giving up a hit to the Golden Eagles. Clarion started the sixth inning with a double, leading to three hits and three runs to make it a 7-3 ballgame heading into the seventh.

Clarion again threatened in the final inning but a classic 4-6-3 double play finished off the win the for the Crimson Hawks.

Poates started off the scoring in game two, hitting a two-run homer to left center in the first inning. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Mauk along with an error scored two more runs in the second inning as IP took a 4-0 lead.

The Crimson Hawks made it 6-0 in the fourth as McCoy smacked her homerun after a Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson) walk to lead off the inning. Clarion tacked on a run in the bottom half before IUP scored three in the sixth, including Ward's homer and RBI hits from McCoy and Devereaux to widen the gap to eight at 9-1.

Clarion failed to score in the sixth, giving IUP the eight-run mercy rule win.

Senn picked up the win in game one, improving to 11-8 while McCoy tossed a complete game two victory, moving to 2-0 on the year.

The Crimson Hawks (22-15, 5-9) will wrap up their season on Saturday with a doubleheader at Lock Haven. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.