INDIANA, Pa. – The Crimson Hawks totaled 20 hits, including five that went for extra bases, as IUP softball swept Clarion in a divisional doubleheader on Wednesday at Ruth Podbielski Field. IUP won by scores of 8-1 and 5-0.
 
Bryanna Lonick (Burgettstown, Pa./Burgettstown) went a team-best 4-for-7, including a triple, RBI, and two runs scored on the afternoon, as the Crimson Hawks improved to 10-11 and 2-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division.
 
Lauren Goetz (Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga Heights), Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) and Amanda Parrish (Dysart, Pa./Altoona) each had three hits in the doubleheader, combining for three doubles and six RBI. Mercer also stole four bases as IUP swiped a total of nine.
 
The pitching was nearly spotless on Wednesday, as three Crimson Hawks combined to strike out 15 batters, walk just one, and give up 12 hits in 14 innings.
 
Lauren Zola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle) picked up the complete game win in the opener, striking out eight batters while scattering six hits and one earned run. Macy Mularski (Irwin, Pa./Yough High School) started game two, striking out six and giving up five hits over 5 1/3 innings. Amanda Spindler (Brownsburg, Ind./Cathedral) tossed the final five outs, striking out one while giving up a hit.
 
Five-run fourth propels IUP to 8-1 opening win
With the Crimson Hawks clinging to a 1-0 lead in the opener, the offense exploded for five runs on six hits in the fourth inning to break the game wide open. Lonick got things going with an RBI triple, scoring Laura Cotter (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) from first. Alaina Montgomery (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield), Goetz, and Mercer then each followed with run-scoring base knocks to give IUP a 6-1 lead. The Crimson Hawks then added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning, nearly ending the game early with an eight-run rule.
 
Seven different players collect hits in game two win
Goetz, Parrish, Lonick and Amanda Spindler (Brownsburg, Ind./Cathedral) each had two hits in game two as IUP totaled 11 in the nightcap.
 
The Crimson Hawks scored a run in both the second and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead, although Clarion threatened in the top of the sixth. Back-to-back one-out singles put Clarion runners on first and second, later moving into scoring position on a groundout. Spindler then got out of the jam, getting a fly out to end the threat.
 
IUP then added three runs on four hard hits in the bottom half of the inning to widen the lead and secure the win.
 
Up next
IUP has a road doubleheader at Bloomsburg scheduled for Friday and will return home for a pair of games against Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday.
 
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For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP softball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_Softball.