INDIANA, Pa. – Third baseman
Rick Jones (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) went 6-for-7 with three triples and a double, and drove in four runs, as the Crimson Hawks swept visiting Pitt-Johnstown by scores of 10-5 and 10-8 on Saturday afternoon at Dougherty Field.
The wins gave IUP the series win, taking three of four games this weekend to even its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division record at 12-12. The Crimson Hawks are 20-24 overall and are in fifth place in the division, three games back of fourth place California (Pa.). UPJ drops to 14-25 overall and 7-15 in the division.
Jones' four extra base hits helped the Crimson Hawks to 11 on the day, as IUP had six doubles and five triples on the afternoon.
Dan Sepic (York, Pa./Central York) had a pair of doubles while
Cory Wheeler (Butler, Pa./Butler),
Ted DeSanti (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) and
Scott Hess (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) each hit one. Wheeler and DeSanti also knocked a triple each.
The six doubles on Saturday brings IUP's season total to 101, as the 2016 Crimson Hawks enter the final four games of their regular season just six shy of the all-time single season program record of 107 (2010).
Michael Klingensmith (Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney) and
Brian Albert (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) picked up the wins on the mound for the Crimson Hawks. Klingensmith went six full innings in the opener, striking out five while allowing three earned runs. Albert got the win in relief in game two while Sepic picked up his fourth save of the season.
Game one was tied at 4-4 entering the sixth when UPJ took a one-run lead on a sacrifice fly after a leadoff triple. The Crimson Hawks responded in the bottom half with six runs, including two runs off of Sepic's double and another two from one of Jones' triples.
Game two went back and forth, with IUP taking a 6-4 lead in the fourth with the help of a DeSanti double, who later scored on a wild pitch. UPJ went back on top 7-6 with three runs in the sixth, before IUP took the lead for good with a four-spot in the bottom half. The Mountain Cats threatened in the seventh, scoring once and brought the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs before Sepic fanned the final batter of the game.
IUP heads into its final regular season series of the season next weekend against Mercyhurst, with a home doubleheader on Friday on Senior Day.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP baseball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPbaseball.
