Box Score MANSFIELD, Pa. – Mansfield's Cassidy Smith hit the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Crimson Hawks lost to the Mountaineers 3-2 Tuesday afternoon at Helen Lutes Field.
That was the first game of a doubleheader that wasn't completed due to lightning and poor field conditions. IUP led game two 4-0 with one out in the bottom of the fifth before it was halted. The game will be finished later this week if conference standings deem it important.
With the loss Mansfield took over third place from the Crimson Hawks in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division. The Mountaineers took all three games from IUP this year.
IUP (14-24-1, 9-6) had to answer Mansfield's scores, getting a leadoff homer from
Brooklyn Kotula in the third and took advantage of a passed ball in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2.
The Crimson Hawks threatened to score more in the sixth, getting a leadoff double by
Jenna Rhue followed by a walk from
Renee Wall. Three batters later Kotula drew a walk to load the bases with two outs but an infield grounder ended the inning with three stranded.
In the eighth,
Kaitlyn Beers reached on an error and advanced to second after a
Rachel Rodriguez single, but two straight outs left both runners stranded.
The Mountaineers (15-12, 9-6) opened the bottom of the eighth with three straight singles to load the bases before their game-winning fly out.
Lauren Zola tossed her 13th complete game of the season, striking out five and giving up nine hits and three earned runs in the loss.
In game two, Wall was 2-for-2 with a homer and three RBI before the game was halted. Kotula gave up four hits with a strikeout in 4.1 innings.
Up next
The Crimson Hawks have four more divisional games to get back into the postseason, starting with a home doubleheader against Pitt-Johnstown Friday. First pitch is 2:30 p.m. IUP wraps up the regular season Saturday with a doubleheader at division-leading Bloomsburg.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP softball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPsoftball.
