ERIE, Pa. - The IUP softball team dropped the opening two games of its series with Gannon by scores of 8-0 and 5-4 Friday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium. 

The games were between two teams fighting for playoff position as the conference tournament begins next month. 

Gannon left the day in third place with a three-game lead with an 18-8 divisional record (19-11 overall) while the Crimson Hawks are fourth in the PSAC West standings at 15-11 (17-13 overall).

The first game was a low-scoring affair through three-and-a-half innings with Gannon grabbing a 1-0 lead. The Golden Knights then exploded for seven runs on three hits, three walks and an error, to take an 8-0 lead. The game ended the next inning due to the run rule. 

Gannon opened the scoring in game two, taking a 1-0 lead after the first inning. IUP then jumped on top in a big way in the fourth, plating four runs on four scoring plays. Ashley Renzi opened the scoring with an RBI single before Margret Russo, Renee Wall, and Anna Ferrucci each forced runs on two walks and a hit-by-pitch. 

The Golden Knights rallied in the fifth, scoring four runs on three homers to go on top 5-4.

Kaitlyn Beers led off the seventh inning with a double to left and advanced to third one batter later. But she would get be thrown out on a Jacey Henderson infield grounder to end IUP's threat and ulimately the game.

Up next
These two teams match up again Sunday at IUP's Podbielski Field in a doubleheader that was originally scheduled for Saturday.

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For coverage of the IUP softball program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPsoftball and online at IUPAthletics.com.