INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP softball team (16-19, 8-8 PSAC West) opens the 2022 PSAC Championships in Quakertown with a matchup against Shepherd (16-18, 9-7 PSAC East) on Wednesday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.
The PSAC tournament has moved back to Veterans Park in Quakertown, Pa. The double-elimination tournament consists of 10 teams - five from each division - and is scheduled for May 4-7.
The Crimson Hawks clinched their postseason berth in the final game of the season and earned the No. 5 seed from the PSAC West. Shepherd is the No. 4 seed in the East.
ADMISSION
Adults - $15 per day Day 1&2 | Day 3&4 - $10
Children under age 12 - FREE
Students from PSAC schools - FREE with valid ID
THE BRACKET
>> The IUP-Shepherd winner advances to play West No. 1 Cal U at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
>> The losing team drops into the loser's bracket and will play either West No. 4 Gannon, East No. 5 East Stroudsburg, or East No. 1 Kutztown in an elimination game.
>> The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, May 7 at 11 a.m. (and 3:30 p.m., if necessary).
IUP POSTSEASON HISTORY
>> The Hawks are two-time conference champions, winning it in back-to-back years - 2011 and 2012.
>> This is IUP's 19th all-time PSAC tournament dating back to 1996. The Hawks made eight appearances between 2010-18.
>> The Crimson Hawks are making the program's first PSAC tournament appearance since 2018.
SERIES NOTES
>> IUP is 5-6 against Shepherd since 2011.
>> The teams played three times this season with the Rams winning twice.
>> Shepherd outscored IUP 19-10 in those three meetings.
Jordan Sylvia hit .750 with a 1.375 slugging,
Allyssa Schmidt hit .500, and
Jenna Rhue had 2 doubles and 1 home run.
>> This will be the two team's first ever meeting in the PSAC tournament.
BACK TO NEUTRAL
>> IUP went 5-6 in neutral site games during the regular season, mostly in Florida, and all in February and March.
>> The Hawks enjoyed a .311 batting average and .478 slugging percentage in those 11 games, higher than their regular season numbers of .280 and .414, respectively.
>>
Jenna Rhue led the team with a .400 average, 11 runs, 6 homers, 15 RBI, and a .971 slugging percentage in the 11 neutral site games.
>> The Hawks hit 10 home runs in 11 neutral site games - 11 homers in 24 home/away contests.
POWER PLAYER
>>
Jenna Rhue is having her best season, leading the team with a .340 batting average, .689 slugging percentage, 10 homers and 33 RBI.
>> She has a team-best eight multi-RBI games and a 12-game reached base streak.
NEED FOR SPEED
>> The Crimson Hawks have 52 stolen bases in 63 attempts this season, a percentage of .825.
>> They average 1.44 steals per game, one of the highest rates in program history.
>>
Joelle Snyder has a team-best 17 steals in 18 attempts.
Allyssa Schmidt ranks second on the team with 12 steals and
Paige Truax has 8.
WALL COMING ON
>>
Renee Wall has been IUP's best hitter over the last two weeks, hitting .412 with an .824 slugging percentage in 12 games.
>> Seven of Walls 14 hits have gone for extra bases, including 3 home runs. She also has 9 RBI in the last two weeks.
