WILLIAMSTON, N.C. – Freshman starter
Jeff Allen (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg Area) struck out 10 batters in five innings and junior outfielder
Chris Calliari (Brockway/Brockway) hit an eighth inning home run as IUP won its 2016 season opener 6-4 over Seton Hill on Friday.
In addition to his 10 strikeouts, Allen scattered three hits and walked three in his five complete innings of work, helping the Crimson Hawks to their fourth straight season opening victory.
Calliari's solo homer came in the top of the eighth inning after Seton Hill had cut IUP's 5-0 lead with three runs in the seventh. Seton Hill managed just one more run in the ninth as junior
Zach Chinchilla (Ambridge, Pa./Quigley Catholic) picked up the save by tossing the final four outs.
The Crimson Hawks got on the board with a double to center by
Rick Jones (New Castle/Laurel) in the third, bringing
Hunter Bigler (Washington/Trinity) around from first. They took a 4-0 lead with three runs in the fifth, including two-out RBI doubles off the bats of
Chris Schaedel (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) and
Scott Hess (Erie/Erie Cathedral Prep).
Ted DeSanti (Erie/Erie Cathedral Prep) got into the action with a run-scoring double of his own, this one in the top of the sixth, scoring Calliari from second to give IUP its 5-0 lead.
Calliari and Bigler each scored twice, while Bigler tallied two of the Crimson Hawks' eight hits.
IUP will play two on Saturday, starting with Bloomsburg at 10 a.m. followed by Pitt-Johnstown at 4 p.m.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP baseball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPbaseball.
