INDIANA, Pa. –
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area) and
Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge) had four hits apiece to lead IUP offensively as the Crimson Hawks split with Mercyhurst in a conference softball doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Podbielski Field.
IUP scored five unanswered runs in the opener to win 5-1 before Mercyhurst rallied for a 9-8 game two, eight-inning victory.
The Crimson Hawks are now 15-21 overall and at 13-13 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West, remain in a three-team battle for the final tournament berth in the division. Edinboro split with California (Pa.) today and is 13-9-1 while Slippery Rock holds a 12-14 record in the division. Since the mandated conference schedule will not be completed, the playoff berths will go to the top four teams in total division victories.
Mercyhurst (16-28, 10-19) scored a run in the first inning of the opening game to take an early lead. The Crimson Hawks came back with three in the second, with Mercer and
Megan Gould (New Germany/Forest Hills) each driving in runs while
Taylor Mercurio (Pittsburgh/Seton-La Salle) came across on a wild pitch.
Mercer brought across another in the fourth on a triple to right center field and the Crimson Hawks added their fifth run on an RBI single by McCoy in the sixth.
Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) tallied her ninth win of the year by tossing a complete game, striking out five batters while allowing just the one earned run on five hits. Campbell allowed two of those hits when the Lakers scored their only run in the first inning, but settled down and scattered three hits the rest of the way to secure the win.
Game two started with the Lakers again taking an early lead with a one in the first, but they added five more in the second inning on six hits to go on top 6-0. IUP rallied back, scoring runs on hits by
Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) and McCoy, and getting another when
Allison Viguers (West Chester/West Chester East) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, in the bottom of the second to cut its deficit to 6-4.
The Crimson Hawks took a 7-6 lead in the fourth, an inning highlighted by a solo home run by McCoy. Mercyhurst jumped on top 8-7 in the sixth and took that same one run lead into the bottom half of the seventh. Mercurio opened the inning with a leadoff double and after stealing third base, tied the game on a wild pitch.
In extra innings, the Lakers took a 9-8 lead with one out in the eighth and then got IUP to go 1-2-3 in the bottom half to get the win and force a twin bill split.
Campbell got the loss in game two, throwing the final two innings in relief and giving up one hit and one earned run.
Amanda Spindler (Brownsburg, IN/Cathedral) started the game in the circle and
Emily Hofmann (Dublin/Pennridge) followed in the circle, throwing the middle 4.1 innings.
The Crimson Hawks had 24 total hits on the day and stole 10 bases in 10 attempts, including four alone by Mercer.
IUP has two doubleheaders left to makeup before the conference tournament begins on Thursday. The Crimson Hawks will host both, with Gannon (24-11, 18-6) on Monday, and Edinboro on Tuesday in what could be the deciding games in the playoff race.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.
