JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Pitching performances by Emily Hofmann (Dublin/Pennridge) and Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) along with 13 total extra base hits by the Crimson Hawks helped IUP to a conference softball doubleheader sweep of Pitt-Johnstown on Sunday afternoon.
 
IUP defeated the Mountain Cats 12-9 and 12-1, running its winning streak to six games and improving to 8-12 overall and 6-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division.
 
Hofmann picked up the win in the opener, tossing 4.2 innings of relief, striking out five while giving up four hits and three earned runs. She entered in the third and pitched out of a jam as the Crimson Hawks took a slim 7-6 lead to the fourth.
 
IUP added a run in the fourth inning followed by three more in the sixth on RBI singles by Allison Viguers (West Chester/West Chester East), Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson) and Amanda Parrish (Dysart/Altoona). The Crimson Hawks added one more insurance run in the seventh en route to the three-run victory.
 
Both Viguers and Parrish went 3-for-4, combining for seven RBI, a double and a triple. Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area) also finished 3-for-5 in the game as the Crimson Hawks finished with 15 hits.
 
Campbell shut down the Mountain Cats in the game, giving up five hits and one earned run as the Crimson Hawks won in a mercy.
 
IUP collected 12 hits in game two, including seven in the first inning alone as the Crimson Hawks poured on nine early runs. Four of those seven hits were doubles, including run-scoring two-baggers by Lauren Hogue (Seneca/Cranberry) and Mercer. Viguers, Parrish and Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson) also had RBIs in the inning.
 
UPJ managed one run in the second inning to make it a 9-1 ballgame, but the Crimson Hawks increased their lead with three in the fifth, highlighted by a three-run homer to right center by Nikki Rzodkiewicz (Erie/Harborcreek).
 
Campbell rebounded from a leadoff double by UPJ in the bottom half to get the next three outs and clinch the five-inning victory, her fourth of the season.
 
Mercer and Rzodkiewicz each had three RBIs in the game. Mercer, Viguers, Hogue and Taylor Mercurio (Pittsburgh/Seton-La Salle) all collected two hits apiece.

Mercer finished the day a combined 5-for-8 with four doubles, a triple, four RBIs and four runs score.
 
This was the first of three consecutive doubleheaders for the Crimson Hawks, who will host division-leading Gannon on Monday and travel to Clarion on Tuesday.  
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.