HOMER CITY, Pa. - IUP pitchers struck out 15 batters and gave up just two earned runs over two games to help the Crimson Hawks sweep a doubleheader with Clarion as the two teams opened their weekend series Thursday. The Hawks took game one 9-1 and won the late game by a score of 10-2.
The doubleheader acted as Clarion's home games and was played at Homer-Center's First Commonwealth Bank Field.
The two all-important wins give IUP a 25-22 overall record, including a 14-12 mark in PSAC West play. The Hawks enter the weekend in a tight race for a conference tournament berth, with three games separating five teams that are fighting for three playoff spots.
Game one
Mark Edeburn got the win in the opener, posting his seventh complete game of the season while giving up five hits and no earned runs with six strikeouts. Edeburn improved to 6-5 on the season.
Five Hawks combined for nine hits, with
Markus Cestra,
Harrison Pontoli,
Peyton Johnson and
Torrey Roper each tallying two base knocks. Johnson ripped three RBI, including a 2-run homer in the fifth that gave IUP a 6-1 lead. Pontoli had two RBI while
Nick Hess and Roper each drove in runs.
Game two
Ian Logue and
Patrick Apgar combined to get the win on the mound in the late game. Logue improved to 2-2 on the year, striking out four while giving up two hits and no runs in 4.0 innings. Apgar entered in the fifth to throw the final three innings, striking out five batters while giving up two runs in the sixth inning.
The Hawks got out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, which included an RBI single by Roper. Their next score didn't come until the sixth when
Colin Williams blasted a solo shot to left center, making it a 4-0 lead.
After Clarion cut its deficit in half with two runs in the sixth, IUP exploded for six runs on four hits and three errors in the seventh to open up its lead. Both Williams and
Au'sean Owens had run-scoring doubles in the inning.
Up next
The series concludes on Mother's Day when IUP hosts Clarion at Dougherty Field. Senior Day will also be recognized for both teams between games. First pitch is 1 p.m.
Follow
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