UPDATE (March 3): It was announced that the opening doubleheader of this series has been moved from Slippery Rock to the IUP campus. Game information below has been updated.
INDIANA, Pa. - The 43rd season of IUP softball begins this weekend with a four-game set against new divisional rival Slippery Rock. The Crimson Hawks and SRU will play a pair of doubleheaders, opening Friday at Slippery Rock before returning to Indiana to play two at Ruth Podbielski Field Saturday.
This is the first time IUP opens a season with a divisional opponent since 1987. IUP will play a mostly divisional schedule in 2021 with 32 of their 36 games against PSAC West opponents. Each of those are currently scheduled for a four-game weekend home-and-home series.
SPECTATORS
IUP Athletics is allowing spectators at outdoor events this spring. Any fans visiting Ruth Podbielski Field are asked to keep socially distant from each other, participating teams, student-athletes, school officials and other game day personnel. When not able to socially distant, please wear masks.
LINEUP
IUP vs. Slippery Rock (DH) | Friday, March 5 | 1 and 3 p.m. | Indiana, Pa.
Live Stats Game 1 |
Live Stats Game 2
IUP vs. Slippery Rock (DH) | Saturday, March 6 | 1 and 3 p.m. | Indiana, Pa.
Live Stats Game 1 |
Live Stats Game 2
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter:
@IUPsoftball
Instagram:
@iupsoftball
NOTES
>> The Crimson Hawks were picked to finish third in the PSAC Western Division in the preseason coaches poll, receiving one of the possible nine first place votes. Slippery Rock was picked seventh in the nine-team division.
>> The PSAC has moved from a three-division to two-division format for this season, with IUP moving to the West from the Central Division.
>> These two teams have split their last 10 games (5-5) with IUP posting a 4-2 record at home. They last met in 2019 with SRU sweeping a non-divisional doubleheader in Indiana by scores of 12-6 and 9-3.
>> The Hawks return their top nine hitters from last year's pandemic-shortened 4-10 season, including two former PSAC Athletes of the Year in
Kaitlyn Beers and
Renee Wall.
>> Beers is back for her fifth season after receiving an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA. She enters 2021 ranked in the top-20 at IUP in several categories, including batting average (.320), doubles (31) and home runs (17). She's a three-time All-PSAC selection, winning top freshman honors in 2017 and player of the year honors as a sophomore.
>> Wall led the team with four homers last spring, knocking one out every 9.5 at-bats. Wall is a former all-region selection at third base and like Beers, also won freshman and player of the year honors in back-to-back campaigns.
>> Sophomore
Haleigh Zimmerman had a good start to her collegiate career in 2020. She tied for the team-lead with 10 RBI and nine runs scored, hitting primarily in the third spot in the order. Zimmerman was also tied for second with three homers, third with .300 batting average, and fourth with .550 slugging percentage, and had a team-best eight-game hit streak.
>> Back in the circle this year is a pair of sophomores in
Hope Jones and
Ashley Renzi. The two started 11 of IUP's 14 games last spring and combined for eight complete games and 29 strikeouts over 65.0 innings.
