WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The IUP offense continually applied pressure and
Derrick Shields added a stellar start on the bump for the Crimson Hawks, who eliminated top-seeded and hosts West Chester by a 9-3 final on Friday afternoon at Serpico Stadium.
IUP (35-15) posts its third NCAA Tournament victory in program history, playing complimentary baseball once again. The Hawks are set for Saturday's Atlantic Region Final against Charleston (W.Va.) as the lone unbeaten team in the pod, needing just one win to advance to the NCAA Super Regional best-of-three series.
West Chester (43-9) entered as the PSAC Champions, ranked seventh in the nation and the hosts of the Atlantic Region One pod. The Golden Rams see their season come to an abrupt close with a loss to Charleston (W.Va.) on Thursday and a setback to the Crimson Hawks on Friday.
The Hawks were receiving votes in the latest ABCA DII Top 25 Poll, entering the regional as the number five seed. IUP kept West Chester scoreless until the fifth inning with work from Shields and the defense, posting seven runs offensively between the fourth and sixth frames to take control.
IUP has combined for 28 runs spanning two NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament contests, marking the first time in program history the school has won multiple NCAA Tournament games in a season.
Shields whirled a complete game gem, benefitted by plenty of run support. He went the distance, tossing nine innings over 106 pitches, allowing nine hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts.
Sheilds delivered his fourth complete game outing of the season and first in a nine-inning contest.
IUP showcased great balance up and down the lineup once against nine different players registered a hit.
Ricardo Aponte and
Harrison Pontoli led the way for IUP with two hits and two RBI each at the plate. Pontoli scored twice and added a walk, setting the table from the leadoff spot for the Crimson Hawks.
Blaise Zeiders had his first multi-hit game since March 14 at Chestnut Hill, adding a walk and a run scored.
Au'sean Owens posted a pair of hits and scored twice.
Aponte delivered with a runner in scoring position again for IUP in the third, doubling home Owens for a 1-0 advantage. Run-scoring singles for Pontoli and Aponte, along with a bases-loaded walk to
Blaise Zeiders, expanding the IUP margin to 4-0 through four innings.
After WCU got on the board with a two-run shot, the Crimson Hawks took control right back in the bottom of the sixth. Highlighted the offensive onslaught was a hard-hit triple from
Peyton Johnson, scoring
Brady Yard and Zeiders for a 7-2 lead.
Pontolli drove in his second RBI of the afternoon in the seventh for a 9-2 margin. WCU scrounged across one more run in the eighth and threatened in the ninth before Shields shut the door emphatically.
Up Next
IUP faces Charleston (W.Va.) for the second time in three days, needing one victory against the Golden Eagles. First pitch comes Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m.
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