INDIANA, Pa. - The Crimson Hawks combined for 27 runs on 28 hits, including 14 for extra bases, as they opened their series against Pitt-Johnstown with a doubleheader sweep on Friday afternoon at Dougherty Field. IUP won by scores of 14-12 and 13-3, the two biggest single game scoring outputs of the season.
The Crimson Hawks improved to 17-15 overall and got back to within a game of the division-lead with an 8-6 league record. Pitt-Johnstown fell to 15-17-1 and 3-11.
The Hawks had nine doubles, a triple, and homered four times.
Markus Cestra had a huge day from his leadoff spot, going a combined 8-for-9 with three runs scored, five doubles, a home run, and seven RBI.
Colin Williams had two home runs and drove in four RBI in game two alone while
Torrey Roper had a 2-run homer in game one.
Game one
At least one run was scored in each of the game's seven innings, starting with three in the first by the Hawks.
Pitt-Johnstown scored a pair of runs in each of the next three innings to take a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the fourth. Cestra got one run back when the led off IUP's half of the inning with a solo homer to left center before the Hawks put four on the board in the fifth to take the lead. The big hit was a 2-run homer by Roper and Cestra capped the inning by driving in two runs on a double to right center to make it an 8-6 game.
The Mountain Cats came back with five in the sixth to go up 11-8 but again IUP rallied, putting six on the board in the bottom half to go on top 14-11. The six runs came on four hits and three walks, including another 2-run double by Cestra.
Eli Glass picked up the win in relief, getting the last four outs after entering in the sixth innings.
Jeremiah Williams started the game and went 5.2 innings, giving up 10 hits and eight earned runs while striking out seven.
Game two
The Crimson Hawks again struck first with six runs in the first, including a 3-run home run by Williams.
After two runs by UPJ in the second, IUP put another five runs on the board in the third, starting with an inside-the-park home run to dead center by Williams.
Harrison Pontoli,
Austin Mueller and
Peyton Johnson also drove in runs to give IUP an 11-2 lead. Cestra had his final double of the day in the bottom of the fourth, driving in two runs to make it a 13-3 game and cap the scoring.
Mark Edeburn went the distance on the mound, scattering five hits and giving up three earned runs while striking out seven to improve to 4-4 on the year.
Up next
The Hawks wrap up their series with UPJ on Saturday at The Point in Johnstown. The games start at 11 a.m.
Follow
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