INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP softball team rallied from four runs down and posted two big innings late in game one, posting a 10-6 comeback victory in the opening game of Sunday's divisional doubleheader at Cal U. The Crimson Hawks tried to rally in the nightcap but fell by a score of 4-2 to split the doubleheader and the four-game weekend series.
The Crimson Hawks scored four times in the seventh and five more in the eighth to get the impressive extra inning victory.
Both IUP and Cal U wrap up the weekend with identical 5-3 overall and PSAC West records for the year.
Standout performances
Sr.
Renee Wall: 4-7, two runs, home run, three RBI
Soph.
Haleigh Zimmerman: 3-6, run, double, RBI
Sr.
Rachel Rodriguez: 3-7, run, double, three RBI
Sr.
Jenna Rhue: 2-5, run, home run, three RBI in game one
Sr.
Kaitlyn Beers: 3-5, run, double in game one
Soph:
Hope Jones: W (2-0), CG, 12 strikeouts in game one
Game one
Down by four runs in the fifth, the Crimson Hawks started their comeback with a RBI single by Rhue to make it 4-1. They put together a big seventh inning, getting a pair of two-run homers off the bats of Wall and Rhue to take a 5-4 lead into the bottom half.
After a Cal U sac fly sent the game to extra innings, IUP used that seventh inning momentum to plate five more runs in the eighth.
Jacey Henderson opened the scoring with an RBI double, followed by a bases loaded walk from Zimmerman and a bases clearing double by Rodriguez.
Hope Jones went the distance in the circle and tied her career-high with 12 strikeouts, which she previously recorded yesterday against the Vulcans.
Game two
IUP again tried to rally in the nightcap as Cal U took a 4-0 lead into the seventh. With two outs and two runners on,
Bella Bucy doubled down the leftfield line to bring Rodriguez across the plate for the first run. Wall followed with a single through the left side as
Ashley Renzi scored to make it 4-2, but the rally fell short with a ground out to end it.
Up next
The divisional schedule continues next weekend as the Crimson Hawks face Mercyhurst in a four-game set. IUP is scheduled to host the Lakers Friday and will head to Erie Saturday.
Follow
For coverage of the IUP softball program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPsoftball and online at IUPAthletics.com.
