INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP softball team saw mixed results in a doubleheader matchup against Clarion, taking the first game by a 10-2 count in six innings before dropping game two by a 6-4 margin.
IUP is now 25-11 overall and 11-16 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play. With just one halted game and two more conference doubleheaders remaining, the Hawks find themselves two games out of the final playoff spot.
Seton Hill, Gannon and California (Pa.) all clinched postseason berths following action on Tuesday. IUP's win against Clarion (12-29, 7-18) marked the 55th consecutive victory against the Golden Eagles since 2008.
Game One: IUP 10, Clarion 2 (6 Innings)
IUP blasted their way to a game one victory with six runs in the sixth inning.
Jaycee Haidze's three run shot handed IUP a run-rule victory, putting an exclamation mark on the win with a ball off the scoreboard in left center.
It was the ninth homer of the season for Haidze, matching the team lead. In the circle,
Kendall Young navigated through the Clarion lineup for a complete game victory that featured eight strikeouts.
IUP cracked 13 hits for the game as four players registered multiple knocks.
Maddie Griffin and
Paige Truax collected three this apiece, while
Madison Pikula and
Delaney Patella recorded two hits each.
Clarion took an early lead in the second with a wind-aided homer from Hailey Rimmey in the second inning. It was all IUP from there, responding with three runs in the home half of the second.
Jordan Sylvia got the scoring started with a single to left, knotting the score at one.
Kelly Szolek walked with the bases loaded and Griffin ripped a single to center field, plating
Tess Smiley for a 3-1 advantage.
The Hawks continued pouring it on during an eventful home half of the sixth inning.
Game Two: Clarion 6, IUP 4
Clarion countered in game two with three home runs in a 6-4 victory against the Crimson Hawks. Haidze had two hits in the game for the Crimson Hawks, which continue to press forward with offensive milestones.
With one walk in game, Patella set the program's career record for base on balls with 73.
Meanwhile, Pikula added another hit in the nightcap for her 65th of the season. Pikula has two hits in a halted game against California (Pa.), which will be resumed tomorrow at Podbielski Field. Accounting for those two knocks, Pikula tied the IUP single season hits record at 67 set by Megan McCormick in 2010. She has a chance to break the record officially with her next hit once the stats from the California game become official.
Clarion jumped ahead 3-0 with a pair of home runs in the third. Grifin recorded a sacrifice fly that scored two runs as IUP tailed 3-2. The Goden Eagles went deep again in the fourth and added two more runs in the sixth for a 6-3 margin.
Sylvia slashed a rolling single to left center that scored
Sara Tailford in the sixth, getting IUP back within 6-4. Young started game two in the circle, tossing 3.1 innings.
Elizabeth Kasper fired seven strikeouts over the final 3.2 innings of relief pitching.
Up Next
IUP hosts California (Pa.) tomorrow, April 24, to resume a halted game beginning in the top of the fifth inning. The resumed game starts at 4:00 p.m. from Podbielski Field.
Follow
For coverage of the IUP softball program, follow the Crimson Hawks on X (Twitter) and Instagram @IUPsoftball and online at IUPathletics.com.
