INDIANA, Pa. –
Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson) hit two home runs, including a game-tying solo shot in the sixth, as the Crimson Hawks rallied for a game two 6-4 victory over Gannon to highlight a softball doubleheader split on Monday afternoon.
The game two victory kept the postseason hopes alive for IUP, which will play Edinboro on Tuesday for the right to head to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament as the fourth seed in the Western Division.
The Crimson Hawks have a 14-14 record in the PSAC West and is currently tied with Edinboro (14-10-1) for the fourth spot in the standings. Since the mandated conference schedule will not be completed, total division wins will determine seedings. The Fighting Scots swept a doubleheader earlier in the season, so IUP will have to win both games tomorrow in order to clinch the final spot in the postseason.
Francis' first home run was a two-run blast over the fence in center field, cutting the Crimson Hawks' deficit to one at 4-3 in the fourth inning. Her next shot flew over the right center fence with one out in the sixth, tying the score at 4-4.
It was Francis' fifth and sixth homers of the year and she finished the day 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and two runs scored.
IUP wasn't done in the sixth, as
Meghan Carney (Corry/Corry),
Taylor Mercurio (Pittsburgh/Seton-La Salle) and
Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) followed with three straight singles to load the bases.
Amanda Parrish (Dysart/Altoona) then stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and promptly drilled a double to right center field, bringing home Carney and Mercurio as the Crimson Hawks took a 6-4 lead to the seventh.
Gannon led off the top half with a single, but with a runner on second and just one out, IUP starter
Emily Hofmann (Dublin/Pennridge) picked up the final two outs to clinch the win for the Crimson Hawks.
Hofmann picked up the complete game victory, her third win of the year, giving up four earned runs on eight hits.
The Crimson Hawks had 11 hits in the game, including two each by Francis and Mercurio.
It was another tight game in the opener, with Gannon getting a 4-3 eight-inning victory. With the Golden Knights on top 3-0 in the sixth, IUP scored three runs to tie the game heading to the seventh. Both teams threatened in the inning but neither was able to score, taking the game to extra innings. Gannon then used back-to-back hits in the inning to score the go-ahead run to come out with the win.
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area) had a pair of hits in the opener, including a double. Fairman also collected a double in the game.
First pitch for the doubleheader against Edinboro on Tuesday comes at 2:30 p.m. from Podbielski Field.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.
