INDIANA, Pa. – IUP baseball is set for its first postseason appearance since the 2017 season, opening the conference tournament on Wednesday, April 10 against Millersville at Slippery Rock's Jack Critchfield Park. First pitch is slated for 8:00 p.m., with timing subject to change due to previous games.
The Crimson Hawks secured a spot in the playoffs with a doubleheader sweep of Gannon on Friday, May 5 before closing out the regular season in walk-off fashion the following day.
GAME INFORMATION
- Game 51: (W4) IUP vs. (E1) Millersville
- What: 2023 PSAC Baseball Championships (PSAC Tournament Game Four)
- When: Wednesday, May 10 | 8:00 p.m.
- Where: Jack Critchfield Park – Slippery Rock, Pa.
- Records: IUP (23-27) | Millersville (40-7)
- Social Media Updates: Twitter (@IUPBaseball)
- Live Video: PSAC Digital Network (courtesy: Slippery Rock Athletic Communications)
- Live Stats: SIDEARM (courtesy: Slippery Rock Athletic Communications)
- Season Stats: IUP | Millersville
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
- Tickets: TicketLeap (online only; cashless)
- WEDNESDAY: $15 adults, $7 children/students
- THURSDAY: $15 adults, $7 children/students
- FRIDAY: $10 adults, $5 children/students
- SATURDAY: $10 adults, $5 children/students
- Directions: Here
- Slippery Rock Weather: Here
TOURNAMENT COVERAGE
PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
- Game One – Wednesday, May 10 | (E2) East Stroudsburg vs. (W3) California (Pa.) – 9:30 a.m.
- Game Two – Wednesday, May 10 | (W1) Seton Hill vs. (E4) Shippensburg – 1:00 p.m.
- Game Three – Wednesday, May 10 | (W2) Mercyhurst vs. (E3) West Chester – 4:30 p.m.
- Game Four – Wednesday, May 10 | (E1) Millersville vs. (W4) IUP – 8:00 p.m.
- Game Five – Thursday, May 11 | Winner of Game One vs. Winner of Game Two – 10:00 a.m.
- Game Six – Thursday, May 11 | Winner of Game Three vs. Winner of Game Four – 1:30 p.m.
- Game Seven – Thursday, May 11 | Loser of Game Five vs. Loser of Game Six – 5:00 p.m.
- Game Eight – Friday, May 12 | Winner of Game Five vs. Winner of Game Six – 11:00 a.m.
- Game Nine – Friday, May 12 | Loser of Game Eight vs. Winner of Game Seven – 3:00 p.m.
- Game 10 – Saturday, May 13 | Winner of Game Eight vs. Winner of Game Nine – 11:00 a.m.
- Game 11 – Saturday, May 13 | If necessary; played if winner of game nine also wins game 10
IUP STORYLINES/NOTES
- This is IUP's 16th all-time PSAC Tournament appearance, last making the postseason in 2017.
- IUP boasts a 24-25 all-time mark in PSAC tournament games, with championship seasons coming in 1960, 1973, 1980, 1988 and 1990.
- First round games for this year's tournament are single elimination, with double elimination beginning with the second day of action on May 11.
- The Crimson Hawks had three All-PSAC West First team selections, the most for the program since 2013. Markus Cestra (designated hitter), Harrison Pontoli (infielder) and Jeremiah Williams (starting pitcher) were all listed among the all-league recipients.
- IUP has played at Jack Critchfield Park twice this season, posting a doubleheader road sweep of Slippery Rock by scores of 6-0 and 5-0 on April 2.
- IUP needed two victories over its final three games of the regular season against Gannon, notching 7-3 and 2-1 wins in Erie on Friday, May 5 during a doubleheader. The Crimson Hawks rallied for a 7-6 walk-off victory the following day on Saturday, May 6 at Dougherty Field.
- Cestra and Pontoli are two of the key offensive cogs for IUP this season, each ranking among the top 20 in program history in multiple career offensive categories. Cestra is fourth in program history in doubles (38) with Pontoli ranking 13th overall with 96 career RBI.
- Davin Landers is the team's best hitter by average, batting .342 in 39 appearances this season behind the plate. More recently, Branden Kanick had an outstanding series at the plate against Gannon, recording he walk-off knock in the regular season finale.
- Williams boasts a 2.82 ERA through 54.1 IP, joining Derrick Shields and Mark Edeburn as rotation contributors with at last 10 starts.
- In the bullpen, Paul Tripi, Jason Madrak, Sean Furlong, Ty Ryen and Sebastian Rosado-Guindin have been among the key relievers down the stretch run of the season.
- IUP has gotten plenty of production along the outfield with a rotation of Au'sean Owens, Torrey Roper, Zach Miller, Elijah Dunn and Christian Gabriel.
