JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Despite 12 base hits, the Crimson Hawks could not generate enough runs as IUP fell to Lock Haven 8-5 on the opening day of the 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Baseball Championships on Wednesday at Point Stadium.
IUP (22-24) heads to the loser's bracket to face West Chester, which fell to Seton Hill 6-5 tonight. The elimination game will be played on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in Johnstown.
Seven different players recorded a hit for the Crimson Hawks, with five of the top six hitters in the lineup collecting a pair of base knocks. IUP put four more runners on base by drawing three walks to go along with a hit batter, but stranded nine during the nine inning game.
Lock Haven (32-16) used the long ball to score seven of its eight runs, hitting four home runs on the afternoon. The Bald Eagles hit solo shots in the second and sixth innings, adding a three-run homer in the third and two-run round tripper in the seventh.
The Crimson Hawks struck first, getting an RBI infield single from
Scott Hess (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) in the bottom of the first inning.
With the Bald Eagles leading 5-1 in the fifth, IUP picked up another run with a single to right by
Cory Wheeler (Butler, Pa./Butler), which scored
Chris Eisel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) from second.
The Crimson Hawks had a good start in the sixth, as
Wes Carson (Woodstock, Md./Marriots Ridge) and
Anthony Rigous (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) led off with back-to-back singles, before
Matt Eperesi (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Mars) loaded the bases after being hit with a pitch.
Ted DeSanti (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) then grounded into a double play, scoring Carson, before a
Nate Dickey (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) fly out ended the threat.
Down 8-3 in the ninth, Eisel and Hess both sent pitches over the tall wall in left field to cut into the deficit. However, the bases were empty on each shot and the comeback ended three runs short.
Starter
Jeff Allen (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg Area) took the loss, giving up six on six hits while striking out four in six innings.
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