WILLIAMSTON, N.C. – Despite a two-run go-ahead home run from junior third baseman
Dan Sepic (York, Pa./Central York), the IUP baseball team dropped a 4-3 decision to 14th-ranked Millersville on Friday night at Barnes Field.
With the loss, the Crimson Hawks fall to 3-7 on the season. Meanwhile, the Marauders improve to 12-4 overall.
Millersville took an early 1-0 lead in the first on an error. After IUP was retired in order in the second and third innings, the Crimson Hawks began the top of the fourth with a lead-off walk from
Cory Wheeler (Butler, Pa./Butler). Sepic came to plate next and then belted a two-run home run to give the Crimson Hawks a 2-1 lead. IUP nearly added to the lead as walks from
Wes Carson (Woodstock, Md./Marriots Ridge) and
Ted DeSanti (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) put runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later
Matt Eperesi (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Mars) walked to load the bases before a groundout ended the threat.
The Marauders tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly from Chas McCormick before retaking the lead on an RBI double from Mitch Stoltzfus to make it 3-2. The score remained 3-2 until the seventh when the Crimson Hawks tied the game when
Chris Eisel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) scored on a wild pitch in the top of the inning. Millersville then scored the winning run in the bottom half of the seventh when Dan Neff scored on a wild pitch.
Sepic finished the game 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a walk. Wheeler was 1-for-4 with a run and a walk. DeSanti finished 1-for-3 with a walk.
Starter
Jeff Allen (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg Area) tossed 4.1 innings while striking out five and yielding just one hit and earning a no-decision.
Christian McClure (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) suffered the loss after pitching 2.2 innings in relief while allowing just two hits and one run.
Kyle Peterson earned the win in relief for Millersville after tossing 1.2 innings while striking out four and scattering just one hit.
Up Next
IUP concludes its four-game series with Millersville with a double-header on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP baseball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPbaseball.
