KINSTON, N.C. –
Ryan Uhl (St. Marys, Pa./St. Marys) and
Wes Carson (Woodstock, Md./Marriots Ridge) each hit two-run homeruns to help the Crimson Hawks to a 5-4 victory as IUP baseball split a doubleheader with Millersville on Monday afternoon at Grainger Stadium.
Both homeruns gave IUP a one-run lead at the time as Uhl's shot in the third put the Crimson Hawks on top 2-1 and Carson's roundtripper gave them their 5-4 lead in the eighth.
Millersville picked up a run in the first and another in the fourth, tying the game at 2-2. The Crimson Hawks took the lead in the seventh when
Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) singled through the left side, scoring
Jonathan O'Neill (Pittsburgh/Chartiers Valley). It was an easy score for O'Neill as he came in from third after his triple to left field with one out in the inning.
The Marauders took the lead in the bottom half, getting back-to-back doubles to lead things off, followed by an RBI single two batters later.
Carson's homer in the eighth came right after
Scott Hess (Erie/Erie Cathedral Prep) drew a leadoff walk. IUP hurler
Dan Sepic (York, Pa./Central York), who had entered in the sixth, settled down after Millersville's runs in the seventh and allowed just one runner on over the final two innings to pick up his first career win. He tossed the final four innings, striking out one while giving up six hits.
The Crimson Hawks totaled 11 hits in the game two, their largest total of the season.
Austin Mock (State College, Pa./State College) went 3-for-5 while O'Neill and Lupia each had two hits. The top three in the order for IUP went a combined 6-for-13 with three RBI, two runs scored, and drew a pair of walks.
Zach Chinchilla (Ambridge, Pa./Quigley Catholic) started the game on the mound for IUP, scattering three hits over five innings, striking out one and giving up two earned runs.
Game one was a different story for the Crimson Hawks as they managed just four hits in a 5-0 loss.
Hunter Bigler (Washington/Trinity) got the start and split time on the mound with
Justin Charles (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) as they combined to strike out five and give up five earned runs on eight hits in the game. Lupia, Carson and
Tyler Mroz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) each had base hits for IUP while
Zac LaNeve (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) hit a double.
The Crimson Hawks are scheduled to play again this weekend against Clarion. The four-game series is currently scheduled to be played in Washington, Pa. on Sunday, March 15 and Monday, March 16.
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