LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – A
Chris Eisel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) two-out RBI single made it a one-run game in the ninth inning, but IUP couldn't complete the rally as Lock Haven came out on top 5-4 on Tuesday afternoon at Watkins Field.
The Crimson Hawks (18-23) found themselves trailing 5-2 entering the seventh, with Eisel legging out a triple to left center to get things going. He scored on the next batter, as an errant pitch on a strikeout forced a throw to first and allowed Eisel to make it a two-run ballgame.
No runs crossed for IUP in the eighth, and two outs came in the ninth before
Bo Putt (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area) smashed his own triple to left field. Eisel followed with a single to score Putt and make it 5-4. The rally ended, however, as a groundout finished off the game for Lock Haven.
Eisel was one of six players to collect a hit for the Crimson Hawks, including a 3-for-4 day at the plate for
Scott Hess (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep). Wheeler also had two hits as IUP totaled 10 on the day.
Lock Haven (29-14) did most of its damage in the first inning, scoring three runs (two earned) off IUP starter
Ben Hudock (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty). Hudock settled down, allowing just one total hit in the second and third innings before IUP went to the bullpen in the non-divisional mid-week contest.
The IUP bullpen of
Justin Charles (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York),
Zach Heffner (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone),
Nick Kuhn (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg) and
Dan Roan (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) wrapped up the game, giving up two hits and two runs over the final five innings.
Trailing 3-0 in the fourth, the Crimson Hawks scored a pair as
Matt Swartz (Sarver PA/Freeport) and
Joshua Beale (Freeport, Pa./Freeport Area) crossed the plate after a fielder's choice and wild pitch, respectively.
Lock Haven picked up two insurance runs in the sixth on a two-out double.
Up next
It was the last non-divisional game of the regular season for the Crimson Hawks, who look to clinch their first postseason berth since 2011 during this weekend's four-game series with Pitt-Johnstown. The series gets underway on Thursday afternoon at Owen Dougherty Field.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP baseball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPBaseball.
