INDIANA, Pa. – IUP's Nick Hess collected six hits and drove in three runs but a pair of late inning surges by Cal U gave the Vulcans another doubleheader sweep with wins of 6-3 and 7-6 Sunday at Owen Dougherty Field.
 
Hess finished 6-7 with a double, home run and three runs batted in as he extended his hit streak to six games but the Crimson Hawks dropped to 6-11 and 0-4 in divisional play.
 
Hess was one of nine Crimson Hawks with at least one hit on the afternoon as the team combined for 19 in the doubleheader. Ben Teplin went 3-7 with a triple and two RBI while Matt Swartz and Chris Eisel each had two base hits.
 
The Vulcans (16-3, 4-0) managed just nine hits off IUP pitchers but drew 16 walks and reached with three hit batters.
 
Brian Albert and Tyler Adams earned the starts Sunday for the Crimson Hawks, giving up just four combined hits with nine strikeouts and four earned runs.
 
Game one
The Crimson Hawks opened scoring in the first inning with an RBI single to right field by Hess scoring Eisel. Swartz later made it 2-0 on a fielder's choice.
 
The Vulcans scored in the second and fifth innings to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Hess put the Crimson Hawks on top at 3-2 with a solo homer to right center to lead off the sixth. IUP had two hits in the inning, leaving one runner stranded.
 
Cal U came right back in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of the IUP bullpen to score four runs on three hits, two walks and an error. IUP had just one base runner in the bottom half and didn't bring anyone across in the 6-3 loss.
 
Game two
Hess was part of another early scoring inning for the Crimson Hawks as they plated four in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead. Singles by Eisel and Swartz led to an RBI double by Hess, with Austin Vigliotti, Teplin and Nick DiAndreth each driving in runs in the inning.
 
Adams started on the mound and allowed just one hit while striking out six batters before eventually giving way to the bullpen in the fifth. The Vulcans were able to get a pair of runs off him in the third, taking advantage of a walk and a pair of wild pitches in the inning.
 
Cal U made its move in the sixth with a 3-run homer by Eric Fairman highlighting a 5-run frame for the Vulcans as they took a 7-4 lead.
 
The Crimson Hawks put their rally caps on in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with the first three batters. Markus Cestra led off with a pinch-hit single, Swartz followed by getting plunked by a pitch, and Hess singled to left. Cestra scored to make it 7-5 on a fielder's choice and then Alex Thornberry, who was pinch running for Swartz, came around on a wild pitch.
 
The comeback ended there as a ground out and fly out left the tying run stranded at third.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks see the field again next weekend with their series against Pitt-Johnstown. IUP hosts a doubleheader Friday and hits the road Saturday. The Mountain Cats are 13-9 overall and are 1-3 in the division after its weekend series with No. 11 Mercyhurst.
 
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