INDIANA, Pa. - After a excellent weekend for the Crimson Hawks baseball program (19-15, 10-6 PSAC West), they host inter-conference opponent Kutztown (9-25, 4-14 PSAC East) in a mid-week doubleheader Wednesday at Dougherty Field. First pitch is 1 p.m.
The Crimson Hawks wrapped up their first regular season divisional sweep since 2018 with four wins against Pitt-Johnstown last weekend. Over the four games IUP hit .439 with 54 base hits, including 16 doubles and four home runs, and scored 47 runs. The Hawks scored a season-high 14 runs twice and also had an outing of 13. The Eastern division Golden Bears are currently on a six game losing streak faltering to Shippensburg, Wilmington, and Mansfield on that stretch. Kutztown is 3-18 on the road.
MID-SEASON PROGRESSION
>> In 34 games, the Hawks have maintained an above .500 overall record and are currently on a five game win streak.
>> The Hawks are batting .308 with a .393 OBP and are averaging 6.79 runs per game. Last year they hit .234, finished with a .323 OBP, and scored 3.2 runs per game.
>> IUP has already surpassed its 2021 totals in runs scored (231), total bases (490), and are close to tripling its HR numbers from last season (26).
LOADING THE BASES
>> Five Hawks currently have an OPS of over .900 with a min. of 70 at bats, led by
Nick Hess with 1.110.
>>
Torrey Roper leads the team in triples (3), being HBP (4), and batting a fine .347 slotting third on the team in batting average contributing to his 1.051 OPS.
>> IUP ranks in the top 6 for both on-base and slugging percentage within the PSAC.
MUELLER AND HESS CONTINUE THEIR STEADFAST 2022 CAMPAIGNS
>>
Austin Mueller and Hess are Nos. 1 and 2 on the team in batting average, walks, and on-base percentage.
>> They are among the four players on the team with an above 1.000 OPS with a minimum of 95 trips to the plate.
>> Against Pitt-Johnstown, Hess went a comfortable 3-7 (.428) while Mueller batted 6-13 (.461) as they each added another double to their 2022 resume's making that 11 for Hess and 8 for Mueller.
SPEED ON THE BASEPATHS
>> The Hawks are 35-49 (.714) in stolen base attempts in 2022.
>> They have already accumulated more total stolen bases in 2022 than they did last season when they posted 33 stolen bags on 42 attempts.
>> IUP has three players with at least 7 stolen bags this season, speedster
Au'sean Owens is tied for first on the team with 7 stolen bases on 10 attempts.
ALL THE TOOLS
>>
Jimmy Tooley continues his pitching hot streak as a freshman after winning another game against Western division rival Pitt-Johnstown.
>> Tooley leads IUP in wins (6), shutout (1), and second in WHIP (1.40). He also leads all starting pitchers in ERA (4.35) and second in opponent batting average (.267).
>> He's averaging 7.7 Ks per 7 innings, fanning a season-high 8 batters against Wheeling and No. 22 Slippery Rock.
>> Tooley fanned 4 batters, scattered 6 hits and gave up just 2 runs in 5.0 innings of work in his win over Pitt-Johnstown.
NEW FACE LEADS THE WAY
>> Veteran MLB pitcher and coach
Steve Kline was named the program's 14th head coach last summer.
>> He spent the last 15 seasons as a pitching coach in the San Francisco Giants organization, aiding pitchers such as Madison Bumgarner, Luis Castillo, Sam Coonrod, and Zack Wheeler, among others.
>> Kline appeared in 796 games over 11 seasons in the Majors with Cleveland, Montreal, St. Louis, Baltimore, and San Francisco.
