INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP softball program secured the final spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament with a doubleheader split of Seton Hill on Saturday at Podbielski Field. The Crimson Hawks got a complete game effort from
Kendall Young in a 1-0 victory before the Griffins answered back with an 8-7 win in eight innings.
IUP (29-23, 15-17) helped their own cause with the game one victory, but would have clinched a postseason berth regardless of the result following Gannon's sweep of Mercyhurst. IUP concluded a taxing week that included eight full games and the resumption of a halted game at Podbielski Field.
The win handed IUP its most wins in a season since 2014 (32-17). It marks the 20th PSAC Tournament appearance in program history.
Game One: IUP 1, Seton Hill 0
Young outdueled Seton Hill standout Lauren Dellett in the circle during a 1-0 game one victory for the Crimson Hawks. Young surpassed 100 strikeouts on the season, surrendering just four hits in her fifth shutout of the season.
Young extends her scoreless inning streak to 15 innings since her relief appearance against California (Pa.) on April 24. Seton Hill had just two runners in scoring position on the day with Young cruising through the Griffin lineup.
IUP collected five hits on the day, scoring the lone run of the game on a wild pitch. Pinch runner
Sara Tailford raced home in the sixth inning.
Game Two: Seton Hill 8, IUP 7 (8 Innings)
Seton Hill plated four runs in the sixth inning, holding on for a game two victory against IUP in eight innings. IUP did not go quietly, tying the score in its last chance at the plate in the seventh inning.
Madison Pikula racked up five hits in game two, scoring three runs. Pikula secured 100 career hits following a big effort in game two.
Maddie Griffin added a pair of hits for IUP, which trailed most of the contest.
Elizabeth Kasper whirled five innings in the circle before
Amanda Fischer finished out the final three innings. Dellett entered for the save after the Griffins took an 8-6 advantage in the eighth.
Up Next
IUP begins postseason play in the PSAC Tournament on Wednesday, May 1. Full seedings and matchups will be official upon the conclusion of the regular season
Follow
For coverage of the IUP softball program, follow the Crimson Hawks on X (Twitter) and Instagram @IUPsoftball and online at IUPathletics.com.
