CLERMONT, Fla. – The IUP softball team split a pair of games on Sunday, falling to Holy Family 4-3 in nine innings before defeating Nyack 9-4.
The Crimson Hawks are 4-2 on the season after three days in Florida. They have an off day on Monday before playing six more over the following three days.
Against Holy Family, IUP opened up the scoring in the top of the second inning when
Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) took advantage of a wild pitch and passed ball after advancing to second base with a walk and stolen base. Three more came across the plate in the third, with a triple from
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg Area) bringing one around before
Allison Viguers (West Chester/West Chester East) followed with a two-run home run.
The Crimson Hawks took a 4-3 lead into the seventh, but a two-error play brought home the tying run as the game went to extra innings. Holy Family started the ninth with back-to-back hits, and with one out and bases loaded, hit a deep fly that brought home the winning run.
IUP fell behind 1-0 early in the game two win, but took a 2-1 lead in the third with an inside-the-park homer by Mercer. Back-to-back doubles off the bats of
Rachel Francis (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson) and
Alaina Montgomery (Greensburg, PA/Hempfield) and a single by
Lauren Goetz (Cleveland, Oh/Cuyahoga Heights) in the fourth scored a pair of runs to give IUP 4-2 lead.
The Crimson Hawks capped their scoring in the fifth, scoring two runs on an RBI single by Viguers and another two on a bases loaded single by Goetz. Goetz was then caught in a rundown, as
Mackenna Miller (Milton, Pa. /Milton) took advantage and scored from third.
Brooke Darling (Springville, PA/Elk Lake) picked up the win in the circle, giving up three hits and two runs (one earned) in five innings. She also struck out six batters.
Amanda Spindler (Brownsburg, IN/Cathedral) went the final two innings in relief, striking out four while giving up two earned runs.
Francis, Mercer, Goetz and Montgomery each had two hits. Montgomery, Francis and Mercer accounted for six of the nine IUP runs.
The Crimson Hawks are back in action on Tuesday with games against Northwood (1 p.m.) and St. Cloud State (3 p.m.).
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP softball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_Softball.
