Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 INDIANA, PA – A five-hit afternoon from Jasa Mitchell (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) led the IUP softball team to a split with regional foe Wheeling Jesuit Thursday afternoon at Podbielski Field.
 
The Crimson Hawks fell in a heartbreaker 6-4 in the first game, but rebounded for the 6-3 victory in game two.
 
IUP got on the board first in game one in the bottom of the first. Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area) opened up the inning with a double, advancing to third on a passed ball. A single down the leftfield line from Stef McCoy scored Mercer, giving IUP the 1-0 lead.
 
The Cardinals tied it up in the third after Jarah Ice scored on an error by second baseman Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson). They would go on to take the 3-1 lead, plating two runs in the top of the fifth.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the Crimson Hawks' offense came alive. Mitchell singled to start the inning and advanced to second on an error by the centerfielder. McCoy walked, putting runners on first and second, and Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn) advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt.
 
In the fourth at-bat of the inning, Allison Viguers (West Chester/West Chester East) brought in Mitchell and McCoy, sending a single up the middle.
 
Madi Derr (Lancaster/Warwick) entered the game as a pinch runner for Viguers and moved up to second following a sacrifice bunt from Angela Devereaux (Oakdale/West Allegheny). Christi Mauk (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) brough Derr home with a double to center field, giving the Crimson Hawks the 4-3 advantage.
 
Unfortunately for IUP, Wheeling Jesuit would respond in the seventh. The Cardinals' first batter reached on a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. A single and an error by centerfielder Megan Gould (New Germany/Forest Hills) would score the runner and tie the game at 4-4.
 
With things knotted up, Emily Hofmann (Dublin/Pennridge) entered the game in relief of starter Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ). Hofmann walked the first batter, putting runners on first and second. A wild pitch brought in a runner and left another on third. A single down the left side would bring in the other runner, giving the Cardinals the 6-4 lead.
 
The Crimson Hawks were unable to muster much in the bottom of the seventh, with only one batter reaching base.
 
Mitchell finished the game going 2-of3 with a walk and a run scored. McCoy went 1-of-3 with an RBI, run scored and a walk.
 
Campbell suffered the loss, going 6.1 innings, surrendering ten hits, five runs, two earned runs and four walks. Hofmann pitched 0.2 innings in relief, giving up one hit, one run and a walk.
 
In the second game, IUP again got on the board first when Mitchell singled through the left side scoring Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area) who reached base after being hit by a pitch.
 
The Cardinals tied it up in the top of the third.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Mitchell reached base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second after a single from Viguers. McCoy sent a single down the leftfield line, sending Viguers to second and bringing home Mitchell. In the next at-bat, Ward doubled to left center, advancing McCoy to third and bringing home Viguers, giving IUP the 3-1 advantage.
 
Mauk would give the Crimson Hawks the 4-1 lead in the fourth, singling to right field and brining home Gould.
 
Wheeling Jesuit plated a run in both the fifth and the sixth, cutting the IUP lead to just one.
 
The Crimson Hawks added some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, after a sacrifice fly from Mauk brought home Gould and a double from Mitchell brought home Mercer.
 
IUP would hold on to claim the 6-3 victory.
 
Mitchell finished game two going 3-of-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Mauk added two RBI, going 2-of-3.
 
Amanda Spindler (Brownsburg, IN/Cathedral) got the W for the Crimson Hawks, pitching 5.0 innings, surrendering just two runs off of six hits and striking out two. Tara Senn (Eagle/Downington East) entered the game and recorded the save, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing just one run and striking out one.
 
With the spilt, IUP now boasts a 14-8, 7-3 record in second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West.
 
The team will resume conference play, heading to Edinboro tomorrow for a doubleheader with the Fighting Scots. They'll return home for a three-game homestand, playing host to division leader California, before welcoming Gannon and Edinboro.
 
First pitch from Edinboro is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. tomorrow.