LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Crimson Hawks broke a tie with three runs in the seventh inning and held Lock Haven scoreless in the bottom half to post an 8-5 game two victory Sunday afternoon to earn a road doubleheader split. The Bald Eagles won game one 2-1.
 
The Crimson Hawks led for nearly the entire nightcap before Lock Haven scored twice in the fifth to tie the game at 5-5.
 
After a scoreless sixth from both teams, IUP started the seventh by putting Karley Kovatch and Sara Hull on base. Two batters later and with one out, Kassie Kesneck flew out to right field to drive in Jackie Toki, who was running for Kovatch.
 
Lauren Goetz followed with an RBI double to center to bring Hull in, and then later scored herself on a Lock Haven error.
 
Cassidy Graham entered in the circle for IUP in the bottom half and gave up just one walk to secure the win and pick up the save.
 
The Crimson Hawks had eight hits in game two and scored runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 5-3 lead. Hull, Rachel Rodriguez and Kesneck each drove home runs with base hits while Bethany Bunner brought one across after being hit by a pitch and Renee Wall had a sacrifice fly.
 
Megan Risinger earned the win in relief, tossing the fifth and sixth innings giving up two earned runs.
 
The win gave the Crimson Hawks an 8-19-1 overall record, including 4-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division.
 
The Crimson Hawks received an excellent performance in the circle in the opener from Lauren Zola. She took the hard luck loss after striking out a season-high 10 in the complete game, giving up just two hits and one earned run in the 2-1 loss.
 
Lock Haven (17-13, 5-3) scored both of its runs in the fourth inning, using a lead off base hit, a walk and two stolen bases.
 
IUP made it interesting in the top of the seventh as Renee Wall led off with a home run. The Crimson Hawks put the next two batters on but back-to-back strikeouts and a pop up ended the comeback.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks will play at Seton Hill in non-divisional action Tuesday afternoon before getting back to PSAC Central play next weekend with UPJ and Clarion.
 
Follow
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