CLERMONT, Fla. – Kassie Kesneck (Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston) hit a go-head home run in the seventh inning to give the Crimson Hawks a thrilling 4-3 win over West Chester Friday morning at Legends Way Ballfields.
 
Kesneck finished 2-3 with that two-run homer and two runs scored as IUP picked up its second straight win in Florida.
 
Lauren Zola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle) was credited with the win in relief, striking out two while not allowing a hit over the final 2.2 innings of work.
 
The Crimson Hawks scored first and last, taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a West Chester fielding error with two outs.
 
They took a 2-0 lead in the fourth with an infield RBI single by Alaina Laverick (Clymer, Pa./Penns Manor) brought Lauren Goetz (Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga Heights) around from second. Goetz got on the board with a two-out double to right center, and crossed the plate with the help of another West Chester error on Laverick's hit.
 
West Chester (14-6) rallied in the fifth, ringing up four straight singles plus a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2. The Golden Rams took a 3-2 lead on their fifth single of the inning before Zola entered to get out of the jam.
 
After a scoreless sixth, Bryanna Lonick (Burgettstown, Pa./Burgettstown) drew a walk with one out before Kesneck slammed a 3-2 pitch down the left field line to give the Crimson Hawks the one run lead. Zola walked one in the seventh, but retired the final two batters to secure the IUP win.
 
Up next
IUP finishes up its trip to Florida with a pair of games against Northwestern Ohio Saturday afternoon.
 
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