INDIANA, Pa. – Celebrating Senior Day, the IUP baseball team recorded a doubleheader sweep of California (Pa.) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play this afternoon at Owen Dougherty Field, winning 10-7 and 7-3.
With the sweep, the Crimson Hawks improve to 17-21 overall and 13-9 in PSAC play and move into a tie for second place in the PSAC West division with Slippery Rock. Meanwhile, the Vulcans fall to 19-23 overall behind a 10-12 mark in league play.
In game one, California took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a double from David Marcus and a single from Kristian Webb. IUP then answered in a big way with a 10-run bottom of the second. It marked the most runs in a single inning since IUP plated 13 runs in the sixth inning against Lock Haven on April 5, 2016.
The Crimson Hawks cut the lead in half after a
Matt Eperesi (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Mars) solo home run. Three batters later
Nate Dickey (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) delivered an RBI double through the left side that tied the game at 2-2.
Cory Wheeler (Butler, Pa./Butler) gave IUP the lead with a two-run single before
Anthony Rigous (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) extended the lead to 8-2 with a two-run double. The Crimson Hawks then closed the inning with runs that scored via an error and a wild pitch.
The Vulcans chipped away as they scored two runs in both the third and fifth innings to cut the Crimson Hawks lead to 10-6. In the bottom of the sixth, IUP loaded the bases with one out but was not able to add to the lead. Webb pulled the Vulcans to within 10-7 on a sac fly in the seventh before
Christian McClure (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) got Thomas Chisam to fly out to left to seal the win.
Rigous went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored while adding two doubles. Wheeler was 2-for-3 with two RBI, a walk and a run scored.
Wes Carson (Woodstock, Md./Marriots Ridge) was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Eperesi finished 2-for-4 with two runs, a home run and an RBI. IUP starting pitcher
Jeff Allen (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg Area) earned the win after tossing 5.0 innings while striking out two.
The Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first in game two on an RBI singles from Marcus and Andrew Grace. The Crimson Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the second on a two-run single by Dickey. IUP then took the lead after
Chris Eisel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) scored from third after Dickey stole second. Two batters later
Dan Sepic (York, Pa./Central York) delivered an RBI single through the left side that scored Dickey to give IUP a 4-2 lead. The Crimson Hawks pushed the lead to 7-2 in the fourth on three singles from Eisel, Sepic and Carson.
California put runners on first and second in the top of the sixth before a Joe Yourgal single cut the lead to 7-3. After the Vulcans loaded the bases with two outs,
Dillon Swanger (Salisbury, Md./James Bennett) came on to relieve starter
Colin Claus (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) and immediately struck out Nico Marchetti to end the threat.
Dickey (2-for-4), Sepic (2-for-3) and Carson (2-for-3) each had multi-hit games in game two. Dickey and Sepic each drove in two runs. Claus earned the win after pitching 5.2 innings. He struck out one while scattering six hits and allowing three runs.
Up Next
The Crimson Hawks travel to Washington, Pa. to conclude their four-game series with a doubleheader at California tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP baseball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPbaseball.
