INDIANA, Pa. – The Crimson Hawks tallied 22 hits and scored 19 runs as they put together a much-needed softball doubleheader sweep of Clarion on Wednesday afternoon at Podbielski Field.
IUP had wins of 8-4 and 11-2, improving to 4-12 overall and 2-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. It was the home opener for the Crimson Hawks.
11 of IUP's 19 hits were extra bases, including five doubles, four home runs and two triples.
Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson) and
Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge) each had four hits, with a double and homer on the day, and had a combined five RBI. Both scored three times.
Lauren Hogue (Seneca/Cranberry) and
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area) each had round trippers, while
Megan Gould (New Germany/Forest Hills) and Mercer had IUP's two triples.
Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) picked up the first victory in the circle for IUP, tossing a complete game with five strikeouts and three earned runs. Clarion got on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the third inning, but the Crimson Hawks got one back in the bottom of the stanza with a solo shot by McCoy.
The Golden Eagles took a 3-1 lead the following inning before IUP shot back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth go to on top 4-3. The runs came on three straight hits by Gould, McCoy and Hogue.
The runs kept coming for the Crimson Hawks in the sixth, scoring four more with the help of extra base hits by Mercer and
Amanda Parrish (Dysart/Altoona). Clarion picked up one run in the seventh to make it a four-run differential.
Clarion again scored first in game two, plating a pair in the top of the first. The Crimson Hawks took the lead in the bottom half with RBI doubles by
Allison Viguers (West Chester/West Chester East), Francis and Mercer. Mercer went yard in the second, making it a 5-2 ballgame, and then Hogue and Francis hit back-to-back solo homers to give the Crimson Hawks a 7-2 lead in the third.
Meghan Carney (Corry/Corry),
Taylor Barna (Easton, Pennsylvania/Easton Area High School ) and
Nikki Rzodkiewicz (Erie/Harborcreek) each brought in runs in the fourth inning to give IUP a nine-run lead en route to the mercy rule victory in 4.5 innings.
Emily Hofmann (Dublin/Pennridge) went the distance for the Crimson Hawks, picking up her first win in her first start by giving up five hits and no earned runs.
IUP's schedule includes a pair of doubleheaders this weekend, hosting Pitt-Johnstown on Friday and Edinboro on Saturday.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.
