Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
INDIANA, PA – Jasa Mitchell (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) smacked three homeruns in the opener and Christi Mauk (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) hit a two-run game-winning round-tripper in the nightcap to help IUP to a softball doubleheader sweep of Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon at Podbeilski Field.
 
The victories ran IUP's win streak to six games as the Crimson Hawks improve to 12-4 overall and a PSAC West-leading 6-0. Mercyhurst fell to 9-15 and 3-5.
 
Mitchell hit her homeruns in the first, fourth and sixth innings of the game one, finishing 3-for-4 with five RBI. Her sixth inning shot brought around Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson) and made it a 9-1 ballgame to give IUP its eight-run mercy victory.
 
Francis also scored on Mitchell's first homer as IUP got out to a quick 3-0 lead in the opening inning. Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn) scored the Crimson Hawks' other run of the inning after Amanda Spindler (Brownsburg, IN/Cathedral) singled to left.
 
IUP picked up two more in the third, highlighted by an RBI double off the bat of Angela Devereaux (Oakdale/West Allegheny). Mitchell's second blast was the first run of the fourth, which also included an RBI double from Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge).
 
Mercyhurst got its one run in the fifth on an RBI single before Mitchell's game-ending homerun in the sixth.
 
Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) got the complete game win in the circle for the Crimson Hawks, giving up three hits and no earned runs in six innings of work. She struck out four and walked none to improve to 5-2 on the year.
 
Mercyhurst struck first in game two, getting a three-run homerun from Courtney Smith in the first inning. Ward added one in the second for IUP but the Lakers got a solo shot in the third to get back to a three-run differential at 4-1.
 
The Crimson Hawks picked up one run in the bottom half on an RBI single by Francis, bringing Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area) around from second. Madi Derr (Lancaster/Warwick) made it a 4-3 game when she scored from third on a Kaylee Prendergast (West Chester/Villa Maria Academy) sacrifice fly in the fifth.
 
Francis started things off in the sixth with a single before moving to second on a groundout. She then scored on an RBI single up the middle by Ward, tying the game at 4-4. She then advanced to third on another groundout before Mauk parked one over the fence in left field, giving the Crimson Hawks a 6-4 lead.
 
Spindler had the start in the circle, and faced just four Mercyhurst batters in the seventh to close out the Lakers for the win. She improved to 4-1 on the year with the complete game win, giving up five hits and four earned runs.
 
The Crimson Hawks collected 18 hits on the day, including 11 in the opener. Ward had four of those hits and scored five total runs.
 
IUP returns to the diamond tomorrow with a makeup doubleheader at Slippery Rock. The Crimson Hawks will host Wheeling Jesuit on Thursday in their next home matchup.