INDIANA, Pa. – The Crimson Hawks scored 21 runs 25 runs in a game two blowout win as they split a home PSAC West doubleheader with California (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon at Dougherty Field. IUP won 21-6 in the nightcap after falling 7-5 in the opener.
Eight starters tallied multi-hit games in game two alone, including four each from
Rick Jones (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) and
Hunter Bigler (Washington, Pa./Trinity). Jones drove in three runs and scored twice, while Bigler reached base on all six plate appearances, hitting a triple and home run, while driving in three runs and scoring three times.
IUP is now 17-22 overall on the season and 9-11 in the division, good for fifth place. Cal is tied for second in the division with a 14-6 mark and has a 21-15 overall record.
The Crimson Hawks had two big innings in the game two win, scoring nine in the first and eight in the third. IUP forced Cal to change pitchers twice in the first inning alone, getting a total of 10 hits and 12 base runners.
IUP's third inning included seven hits, with three going for extra bases. Bigler had his triple and homer in the third, leading off the inning with a three-bagger to right center before capping off the scoring with a shot over the fence in right field.
Four more runs came across the plate in the sixth, extending the Crimson Hawks' lead to 15.
The Crimson Hawks saw a total of seven Cal pitchers in game two, while four players drove in three runs each – Bigler, Jones,
Cory Wheeler (Butler, Pa./Butler) and
Chris Schaedel (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier).
Jeff Allen (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg Area) picked up the win on the mound, striking out four and giving up nine hits and two earned runs in six innings of work before giving way to
Nate Dickey (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) for a scoreless seventh.
In game one, IUP took a 3-1 lead after the first until the Vulcans scored in each of the next three innings to go on top 7-3. The Crimson Hawks scored once in the fourth and had a
Scott Hess (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) solo homer in the seventh, but couldn't put together enough hits for a comeback in the 7-5 loss.
Dillon Swanger (Salisbury, Md./James Bennett) took over in the fourth for IUP, striking out two and walking three without allowing a hit or run in four strong innings of relief.
The Crimson Hawks have a non-divisional game at Lock Haven on Tuesday before starting an important four-game series with Pitt-Johnstown on Friday.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP baseball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPbaseball.
