INDIANA, Pa. –
Cory Wheeler (Butler, Pa./Butler) and
Scott Hess (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) each smashed two home runs as the Crimson Hawks broke out for 25 runs on 25 hits in a two-game sweep of Slippery Rock at Dougherty Field on Saturday afternoon.
The two combined for seven hits and 13 runs batted in in IUP's high-scoring 12-11 and 13-8 victories.
The wins keep the Crimson Hawks in the tight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division race past the midway point of the league season. IUP's 9-7 division mark is part of a three-way tie for third place along with Seton Hill and Slippery Rock. California sits in second at 8-6 and Mercyhurst leads the way at 15-1.
The top four teams in each division earn berths in the 2017 PSAC Championships. Three more four-game series are left in the regular season.
Wes Carson (Woodstock, Md./Marriots Ridge) also had a good day at the plate, going a combined 4-for-6 with a triple, RBI, and four runs scored.
Dan Sepic (York, Pa./Central York) had four hits at the dish, and
Ted DeSanti (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) and
Anthony Rigous (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) also had a multi-hit games.
IUP rallies for a win in the opener
Wheeler homered twice in the game one victory, helping the Crimson Hawks rebound from an early 5-0 hole to win 12-11. His first homer was a solo shot in the third, which jumpstarted a four-run inning for the Crimson Hawks.
Wheeler went yard again in the fourth, this one a three-run blast that tied the game at 7-7.
After The Rock added a run in the fifth, IUP scored twice in the bottom half and three more times in the sixth to take a 12-8 lead. Slippery Rock attempted a seventh inning rally with three runs, but
Christian McClure (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) kept the tying run stranded on first as IUP picked up the win.
McClure earned the win in relief, tossing the final three innings.
Hess' grand slam highlights game two victory
After Slippery Rock took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, IUP loaded the bases for Hess where blasted a pitch over the fence in center for a grand slam and a 4-1 lead.
The Rock responded with six runs over the next two innings, but IUP scored three in the third, two in the fifth, and four more in the sixth for the 13-8 victory.
The Crimson Hawks stayed patient at the plate, drawing 12 walks, including two from
Nate Dickey (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) with the bases loaded. Dickey was also part of IUP's four-run sixth with an RBI double to center.
Dickey was one of three IUP players to drive in at least three runs in game two, with Hess and his grand slam and Wheeler also driving in three.
Ben Hudock (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) picked up the win in relief.
Dan Roan (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, fanning two while keeping The Rock at bay during the middle innings.
Up next
IUP will play a pair of home non-divisional games against Shippensburg on Tuesday. First pitch at Dougherty Field is set for 1 p.m.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP baseball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPBaseball.
