GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Opening Game
(W2) IUP Crimson Hawks (22-23, 18-10 PSAC West)
vs. (E3) Lock Haven Bald Eagles (31-16, 16-12 PSAC East)
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 | 3:30 p.m.
Johnstown, Pa. | Point Stadium
Ticket Prices: $15 adults | $7 students | FREE for PSAC students
PSAC Tournament Central:
PSACsports.org
Weather:
Weather.com 10-day forecast
Live Stats: Sidearmstats.com |
Fan Stats |
Media Stats
Updates: Twitter |
@IUPBaseball
CHAMPIONSHIPS AT A GLANCE
The Crimson Hawks are making the program's first postseason appearance in six years as they open up the 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships this week in Johnstown, Pa. IUP is matched up against Lock Haven on Wednesday, with first pitch set for 3:30 p.m. at Point Stadium. The double elimination tournament will continue through Saturday. IUP earned the second seed out of the Western Division with an 18-10 league record, while Lock Haven is the third seed in the Eastern Division with a 16-12 record.
STORYLINES / WHAT TO WATCH FOR
* This is IUP's 15th all-time PSAC tournament appearance, last making it to the conference championships in 2011; IUP advanced to the championship game that year, defeating Millersville (6-5) and Bloomsburg twice (7-5, 6-4), before falling to Mercyhurst (12-3)
* IUP has a 24-23 (.511) all-time record in the PSAC tournament, with championship seasons coming in 1960, 1973, 1980, 1988 and 1990
* The Crimson Hawks are matched up with the West Chester-Seton Hill winner/loser on the second day; The losers on Wednesday will play on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in an elimination game, while the winners will play at 6:30 p.m. that night
* A full tournament bracket will be available on the PSAC Sports Tournament Central page
* The Crimson Hawks played two games at Point Stadium this past Saturday, scoring 22 runs on 27 hits (12 extra-base) in a doubleheader sweep of Pitt-Johnstown
*
Scott Hess (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep) enters the tournament on a seven-game hit streak, hitting .500 (13-26) with a .731 slugging percentage and seven RBI during that span
* Several Crimson Hawks are swinging hot bats of late, as the team is hitting .338 with a .545 slugging over the last nine games (7-2); Eight players are hitting over .300 during that time, including Hess at .406,
Matt Eperesi (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Mars) at .391,
Chris Eisel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) at .375, and
Dan Sepic (York, Pa./Central York) at .364
* A number of pitchers will be counted on as the tournament goes on;
Jeff Allen (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg Area) is 2-0 in two starts after returning from injury, fellow starters
Colin Claus (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) and
Brian Albert (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) are coming off of quality outings against UPJ, reliever
Christian McClure (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) is 5-3 in 17 appearances, while
Dillon Swanger (Salisbury, Md./James Bennett) and
Dan Roan (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) have combined for a 5-2 record in 33 appearances out of the bullpen this year
