INDIANA, Pa. - Freshman Jordan Sylvia drove in five runs to lead IUP softball's offensive effort as the Crimson Hawks split their home-opening doubleheader with Shepherd Saturday at Podbielski Field. The Hawks won 4-3 in the opener and fell 13-4 in game two.

The Crimson Hawks are now 3-3 on the year. 

Game one
Joelle Snyder got things started in the bottom of the first with a leadoff triple and came home when Sylvia drove a single to right field. 

Sylvia extended the lead in the third when Sylvia homered in the third inning to make it 3-0, bringing in Paige Truax who led off the inning with a walk. Sylvia picked up her fourth RBI of the game in the fifth as a ground out brought Snyder across the plate.

Pitcher Amanda Fischer went the distance in the circle for the Crimson Hawks, giving up seven hits without a run through the first six innings. Then in the top of the seventh, Shepherd made it a game with three straight hits - a single, double, and home run - to make it a 4-3 game. Fischer responded well, getting two groundouts to end the game. 

Game two
Shepherd led 3-1 through two innings, with Sara Tailford driving in IUP's run on a single in the bottom half of the second. The Rams scored five in the third but IUP got two back in the bottom half on a Sylvia RBI double and solo homer by Jenna Rhue. 

Shepherd's offensive onslaught continued, however, with four more runs in the fourth and another in the fifth, eventually getting the mercy rule victory in five innings.

At the plate
Jordan Sylvia: 4-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI
Jenna Rhue: 3-6, R, HR, RBI
Alyssa Schmidt: 3-3, R, RBI in game two

In the circle
Amanda Fischer: W (1-1), CG, 7.0 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 1 K

Up next
The Crimson Hawks head to Florida to play in 12 games over six days in Clermont starting on March 11. 

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