INDIANA, Pa. – Sophomore pitcher Lauren Zola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle) struck out 10 batters in a game one win and senior shortstop Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) combined for four hits as IUP softball split a home doubleheader with Mercyhurst at Ruth Podbielski Field on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Zola tossed a complete game, two-hitter in a 3-1 opening win, walking just three and giving up one earned run. It was arguably her best performance of the year, with the 10 strikeouts a season-high while tallying her 11th complete game.
 
Mercer went 4-for-7 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored. She collected three hits alone in game two, her 11th multi-hit game of the season. The Crimson Hawks dropped game two by a score of 6-4, and head into the weekend with an 18-15 overall record.
 
With Zola keeping Mercyhurst's (11-25-1) score low in the opener, Mercer, Kaitlyn Beers (Reynoldsville, Pa./DuBois Area High School) and Kassie Kesneck (Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston) provided the run support.
 
Beers drove in the first run of the game with an RBI double in the third. The Lakers tied the score in the fourth, until Mercer and Kesneck put IUP ahead for good with run-scoring base hits in the sixth.
 
In game two, the Crimson Hawks took an early lead when Krista Berzonsky (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria HS) took advantage of a Mercyhurst second inning error.
 
Starter Megan Risinger (Creekside, Pa./Marion Center) kept the Lakers off the board through five innings, striking out four and giving up just one hit. Mercyhurst then opened the sixth inning with a home run, followed by a double and two singles that ended up leading to a six-run frame.
 
The Crimson Hawks put their rally caps on in the bottom half, with Mercer singling and Amanda Parrish (Dysart, Pa./Altoona) following with a double. Two batters later, Zola drove both of them in with a double to right. Laura Cotter (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) later followed with another RBI double, making it a 6-4 ballgame.
 
The rally ended, however, and IUP managed just one base runner in the seventh as Mercyhurst managed the win.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks get back to PSAC Central play this weekend when they host Bloomsburg on Friday and head to Clarion on Saturday.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP softball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_Softball.