CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Indiana University of Pennsylvania softball program was only able to muster one-hit in a shutout loss during game one but came back to double-up California (PA) in game two en route to a critical 4-2 conference win.
 
Paige Truax's single to leadoff the fourth and Jordan Sylvia's full count walk in the opening frame were the only things that kept the Crimson Hawks from being no-hit in game one as the Vulcans' starter, Caleigh Rister was at the top of her game.
 
Amanda Fischer received the loss and Bella Bucy tossed four scoreless innings with a strikeout and only four hits allowed during the defeat.
 
Tori Long was brilliant in the nightcap, pitching an unofficial complete game, going the distance after relieving a struggling starting pitcher four batters into the game. She logged her first seven-inning contest of her career while striking out twice as many batters (6) in a single-game than her previous-best of three, giving up a single run and only seven baserunners (3 hits, 4 walks).
 
Truax was the catalyst in both games, finishing game two with three of the Hawks' seven hits (42.9%) including a double.
 
Jaycee Haidze was responsible for two the team's four RBIs on the afternoon with one swing, turning a 2-1 seventh inning deficit into a 3-2 lead on a two-run double into the left-centerfield gap which ultimately became the difference.
 
The other two runs came in courtesy of a Jess Cekada sacrifice fly to score Delaney Patella and a Tess Smiley fly out which saw Haidze score from second after a throwing error on the right fielder.
 
Meghan Grill notched a double, Allyssa Schmidt walked, and Patella walked, singled, and scored to round out the day's stat producers.
 
The next challenger for IUP will be Edinboro University on Thursday afternoon after originally being scheduled for Friday at EU.
 
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