INDIANA, Pa. – Freshman
Lauren Zola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle) tossed a one-hitter in the opening game as IUP and Edinboro split a doubleheader in which both games were decided in the final inning on Tuesday afternoon. The Crimson Hawks took game one 8-0 in five innings before dropping game two by a score of 2-1.
IUP improved to 16-12 overall while Edinboro went to 8-12.
The Crimson Hawks took the opener after scoring two runs on the final play to earn the mercy rule, five inning victory. Heading to the fifth with a 6-0 lead,
Rachel Francis (Jefferson, Ohio/Jefferson) and
Taylor Mercurio (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle) led off with back-to-back singles.
Mackenna Miller (Milton, Pa. /Milton) bunted both into scoring position before they each came around on an infield single by
Lauren Goetz (Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga Heights).
Goetz bunted back to the pitcher, but her throw home was too late as Francis crossed home. Goetz tried to advance a base, forcing a throw from Edinboro to second base, allowing Mercurio to race across the plate to make it an eight-run advantage.
Zola tossed the full five innings, striking out a season-high nine batters while giving up just that one hit and walking two. She struck out the side in the fourth and fanned two each in the first, second and fifth innings.
IUP had 10 hits in game one, with Goetz finishing 3-for-3 with an RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored.
Allison Viguers (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) had a pair of run-scoring hits and
Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) had a double and two RBI.
The Crimson Hawks scored five runs on five hits in the third inning, including two on Fairman's double to right field.
In game two,
Brooke Darling (Springville, Pa./Elk Lake) struck out eight Edinboro batters and gave up two earned on five hits, but received little offensive support in the loss.
IUP totaled five hits, scoring in the first inning on a ground out by Viguers. The Fighting Scots tied things up in the second on a single and took a 2-1 lead in the sixth on a run-scoring double.
The Crimson Hawks attempted a rally in the seventh, as Francis opened with a single to right. Mercurio sacrificed her to second and Miller reached on an error, putting runners at the corners with one out. Miller stole second to put the winning run in scoring position, but on a ground out by Goetz, Francis was thrown out on a close by at home trying to tie things up.
The doubleheader was the first of three straight home dates for the Crimson Hawks, who host Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday and Mercyhurst on Thursday.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP softball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_Softball.
