Box Score SHIPPENSBURG, PA – The Crimson Hawks' postseason run came to an end on Saturday with a 9-4 loss to Mansfield in the 2014 NCAA Division II Softball Atlantic Regional played at Robb Field at Shippensburg University.
IUP ends its season with a 32-17 overall record, a five-game run in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament, and its fourth trip in five years to the NCAA postseason.
The Mountaineers' bats were hot all game as they collected nine hits, including three doubles and a triple. Their big inning came in the third when they scored five runs on six hits with one IUP error to take a 5-1 lead.
IUP responded with three runs in the bottom half, starting with a leadoff single by
Megan Gould (New Germany/Forest Hills) on the very first pitch.
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area) sent the next pitch to the gap in left center, scoring Gould from first. The two other runs for the Crimson Hawks came off the bats of
Christi Mauk (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) and
Allison Viguers (West Chester/West Chester East) to cut the Mansfield lead to 5-4.
Mansfield added one more run in the fifth and then three on a bases loaded double in the sixth to take a 9-4 lead into the seventh. The Crimson Hawks tried to put together a rally in the bottom half, with
Jasa Mitchell (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) and
Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge) drawing back-to-back walks with one out. Viguers then smacked a single up the middle, scoring Mitchell from second and keeping two runners on. However, the rally would stop for IUP on a double play ball to the pitcher as Mansfield held on for the victory.
The Crimson Hawks scored their first run of the game in the opening inning, with Mauk advancing home after an errant throw after stealing third.
IUP had four hits on the day and drew seven walks. Viguers finished with two RBI while Mercer and Mauk drove in the other two runs. Three Crimson Hawks saw time in the circle, with
Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) taking the loss in the start.
Amanda Spindler (Brownsburg, IN/Cathedral) and
Tara Senn (Eagle/Downington East) combined to throw the last 4.1 innings.
The loss also ends the careers of four IUP seniors:
Angela Devereaux (Oakdale/West Allegheny), Mauk, Mitchell and
Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn). The group helped the Crimson Hawks to 165 victories, three 30-win seasons, three trips to the NCAA tournament and two PSAC championships.
