INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP baseball team had its biggest offensive production of the season with 17 runs on 15 base hits, but couldn't overcome an equal performance on the other side as the Crimson Hawks lost to Wheeling 18-17 Tuesday afternoon at Dougherty Field.
The 17 runs scored by the Crimson Hawks were their most since the same output in what would end up being the 2020 pandemic-shortened season finale. The base hit total was the most since their 15 hits against Lock Haven in April 2019. That game, coincidentally, also ended in an 18-17 IUP loss at Dougherty Field.
Ten different Crimson Hawks collected at least one hit while eight players drove in at least one run. Both teams combined to throw 11 pitchers on the afternoon.
Wheeling is the top team in the Mountain East Conference North Division and extended its win streak to nine games with the victory.
Key performances
5th
Chris Eisel: 2-5, two runs, home run, four RBI
Sr.
Colin Williams: 2-3, three runs, two doubles, two RBI
Sr.
Austin Mueller: 3-4, run, RBI
Soph.
Harrison Pontoli: two runs, three RBI, stolen base
Soph.
Elijah Glass: two runs, triple, two RBI
Soph.
Caden DeCroo: double, two RBI
Sr.
Alex Super: 5.0 IP, seven strikeouts, three hits, one run
How it happened
Most of the scoring came early as Wheeling plated runs in each of the first three innings, including a 10-spot in the third. The Crimson Hawks countered with three in the second and seven in the third as they trailed 17-10 going into the fourth.
The middle innings saw IUP reliever
Alex Super dominate. In his longest outing of the season, Super struck out a season-high seven batters and scattered three hits while giving up one run over 5.0 innings of work. His big frame camein the fifth, fanning all three Wheeling batters as his performance on the mound seemingly allowed IUP to get back in the game.
The Hawks scored three times in the seventh and once in the eighth as they went into the ninth inning trailing 18-14. After reliever
Jayson Wilbur set Wheeling down in order in the top half - including two strikeouts - the Crimson Hawks batters put together a spirited rally in the final frame.
A
Colin Williams double to left center brought two runners home and then with two outs, pinch hitter
Colton Burd singled through the right side to score Williams and make it a one-run ballgame. Then a wild pitch, walk, and another wild pitch put two runners in scoring position, but Cardinals closer Albert Baez got
Harrison Pontoli to fly out to left to end the thrilling barn burner.
Up next
The Crimson Hawks get back to divisional play this weekend with a four-game series against Clarion. IUP is on the road Friday and will host the Golden Eagles on Saturday.
Follow
For coverage of the IUP baseball program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPBaseball and online at IUPAthletics.com.
