ERIE, Pa. – IUP hit five home runs and scored a combined 20 runs as the Crimson Hawks busted out for a conference softball doubleheader sweep of Mercyhurst on Monday afternoon.
The Crimson Hawks totaled 24 hits on the day and allowed just eight as they defeated Mercyhurst 10-3 and 10-0 (five innings) for their third and fourth straight victories of the season. IUP improved to 6-12 overall and 4-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division.
The four game-win streak has also pulled the Crimson Hawks out of the basement in the PSAC West, going from last out of nine teams to fifth in the division.
Five different Crimson Hawks hit those five home runs, with
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area),
Meghan Carney (Corry/Corry),
Lauren Hogue (Seneca/Cranberry) and
Allison Viguers (West Chester/West Chester East) all going yard in the opener while
Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson) hit a round tripper in the day's second game.
Mercer's homer came in the second inning, driving in three runs as she helped the Crimson Hawks get out to a 5-0 lead.
Taylor Mercurio (Pittsburgh/Seton-La Salle) and
Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge) also hit RBI base knocks in the inning.
Mercurio brought in another run on a bunt single in the third and Viguers, Carney and Hogue followed with their homers in the sixth and seventh innings as IUP climbed on top by eight runs.
Eight different players picked up a hit on the day, with Mercurio finishing 3-for-3. Francis and
Megan Gould (New Germany/Forest Hills) each doubles and two hits.
Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) picked up her third victory of the season with a complete game, six-hitter. She struck out two and allowed just two earned runs in seven innings of work.
IUP owned game two as its six-run fourth inning allowed the Crimson Hawks to get out to a 9-0 lead. They added one more insurance run in the fifth before coming away with the 10-0 mercy rule victory.
Amanda Spindler (Brownsburg, IN/Cathedral) was marvelous in the circle, allowing just two hits and one walk in her five innings of shutout ball. Seven different Crimson Hawks combined for the nine hits, with both Viguers and Mercurio getting two hits apiece.
Francis had IUP's homer in game two with a two-run shot as a part of a three-run second inning.
Meghan Carney (Corry/Corry) also had an RBI single in the fourth inning.
It was the first of five scheduled doubleheaders for IUP this week, with the next coming against Mercyhurst again on Tuesday, this one at Podbeilski Field in Indiana. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.
