CARY, N.C. – Continuing a historic campaign and unprecedented run in program history, the IUP baseball team opens up action at the 2024 NCAA DII College World Series on Saturday, June 1 against Point Loma. First pitch from the USA Baseball Complex in Cary is set for 1:30 p.m.
IUP (38-16) is the five seed in the NCAA DII National Championship Tournament, one of eight teams remaining in the nation. The Hawks square off with fourth-seeded Point Loma (45-11-1), winners of the West Region.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
2024 NCAA DII College World Series (double-elimination)
Game 55: (5) IUP vs. (4) Point Loma |
Championship Central
Saturday, June 1 | 1:30 p.m. | USA Baseball Training Complex | Cary, N.C.
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Buy Tickets Online |
Bracket
Social Media Updates:
@IUPBaseball on X (formerly Twitter)
TICKET INFORMATION
>> Single Day - $15.00 ($7 for senior, child, Cary-Wake County residents)
>> All Session - $40.00 ($20 for senior, child, Cary-Wake County residents
>> Senior: 60 and over; child 12 and under
*prices include fees, taxes
>> Tickets for the championship can be purchased online through Etix (
CLICK HERE). All seating is general admission. Game times are 1:30 pm and 6:00 pm.
WATCH PARTIES AROUND INDIANA FOR DII COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
>> There will be several watch parties around Indiana streaming the games on Saturday and Monday. Additional details for more games will be announced as the schedule becomes finalized.
>> Watch party locations: Fraternal Order Eagles (public welcome), Noble Stein Brewing (Saturday only), Levity Brewing, Indiana Loyal order of Moose (members only)
NCAA DII BASEBALL TOURNAMENT AT A GLANCE
>> The 2024 NCAA DII baseball championship
selections were announced on Sunday, May 12.
>> Regional competition ran from May 16-19 (double elimination), followed by the Super Regionals on May 24-25 (best-of-three series).
>> The Atlantic Regional consisted of two pods, hosted by top seeds West Chester and East Stroudsburg.
>> IUP and Seton Hill advanced out of their respective regional pods. The Crimson Hawks capped an undefeated run through the Atlantic Region One pod, while Seton Hill battled back to defeat host East Stroudsburg in an elimination game over in the Atlantic Region Two bracket.
>> After dropping game one, IUP took down Seton Hill on consecutive days to claim the Atlantic Region title. The Crimson Hawks were the final team to punch their ticket to Cary after a winner-take-all game three was moved to Sunday due to inclement weather.
>> Championship bracket games will take place June 1-8 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.
>> Eight teams advance to Cary and are re-seeded before double-elimination games to decide the national champion.
NCAA DII COLLEGE WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE
>> Saturday, June 1
- Game 1: (4) Pont Loma vs. (5) IUP, 1:30 p.m.
- Game 2: (1) Central Mo. vs. (8) Angelo State, 6 p.m.
>> Sunday, June 2
- Game 3: (3) Catawba vs. (6) Southern N.H., 1:30 p.m.
- Game 4: (2) Tampa vs. (7) UIndy, 6 p.m.
>> Monday, June 3
- Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1:30 p.m.
- Game 6: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.
>> Tuesday, June 4
- Game 7: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1:30 p.m.
- Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 p.m.
>> Wednesday, June 5
- Game 9: Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 1:30 p.m.
- Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, 6 p.m.
>> Thursday, June 6
- Game 11: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9, 1:30 p.m.
- Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m.
>> Friday, June 7
- Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 6, TBA
- Game 14: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 8, TBA
>> Saturday, June 8
- Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14
IN THE RANKINGS
>> ABCA National Poll (May 27): IUP (No. 13), Point Loma (No. 4)
>> DII College World Series Seeds: IUP (No. 5); Point Loma (No. 4)
IUP IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
>> IUP is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
>> The Crimson Hawks have more NCAA Tournament wins this season (5) than in the history of the program prior to 2024.
>>
>> IUP is back in the NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time since the 1990 season, spanning 34 years between tournament berths.
>> IUP won the Atlantic Region One pod behind an exciting 2-1 victory against Charleston in 10 innings. The Hawks won all three games at West Chester, eliminating the host Golden Rams in game two.
>> The Crimson Hawks were part of the North Atlantic Region in 1990 as the top seed. IUP lost both games, coming against Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences and Norfolk State.
>> IUP had just one NCAA DII Tournament victory in program history entering the tournament, coming in 1988 with a 10-4 victory against Saint Joseph's (Ind.). IUP was a member of the NAIA prior to joining the NCAA ranks.
I'M GONNA BE (500 MILES)
>> Paying homage to the hit 1980s song by The Proclaimers, IUP hit the road to travel to North Carolina for the College World Series.
>> The Crimson Hawks traversed just shy of 500 miles in their travels, beginning the trip with a stop in Richmond for a Thursday practice at the home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
TREMENDOUS TURNAROUND
>> IUP went 2-35 in 2021 before posting a 27-22 mark in 2022, an improvement of 25 victories year over year.
>> From there, the Hawks clinched a berth in the PSAC Tournament in consecutive seasons in 2023 and 2024. It was the first time in over a decade (2010-11) that IUP has made consecutive conference tournament appearances.
>> IUP carried a strong PSAC Tournament into the regional tournament and ultimately into the super regional series.
>> Third year head coach
Steve Kline has helped spearhead the turnaround for the Crimson Hawks. The former Major League left-hander is 90-67 (.573) since taking over the IUP program in 2022.
IUP'S RECORD WHEN…
>> Scoring 0-2 runs: 1-7
>> Scoring 3-5 runs: 12-7
>> Scoring 6-9 runs: 13-2
>> Scoring 10+ runs: 12-0
>> Allowing 0-2 runs: 16-3
>> Allowing 3-5 runs: 12-5
>> Allowing 6-9 runs: 8-3
>> Allowing 10+ runs: 2-5
>> Scoring a run in the 1st inning: 17-4
>> Allowing a run in the 1st inning: 9-4
>> Scoring first: 28-7
>> Opponent scores first: 10-9
>> Leading after the 6th inning: 30-2
>> Trailing after the 6th inning: 0-11
>> Tied after the 6th inning: 8-3
>> Leading after the 7th inning: 14-1
>> Trailing after the 7th inning: 1-5
>> Tied after the 7th inning: 3-2
>> Leading after the 8th inning: 11-1
>> Trailing after the 8th inning: 0-6
>> Tied after the 8th inning: 4-0
>> Hits zero home runs: 19-16
>> Hits one home run: 12-0
>> Hits 2+ home runs: 7-0
>> Opponent hits zero home runs: 21-7
>> Opponent hits one home run: 13-7
>> Opponent hits 2+ home runs: 4-2
>> Out-hits the opponent: 24-0
>> Out-hit by the opponent: 9-14
>> Hits are equal: 5-2
TEAM STATS AT A GALNCE (NCAA DII Rank)
>> Scoring: IUP (6.4, 140)
>> Earned Run Average: IUP (5.16, 64)
>> Batting Average: IUP (.278, 173)
>> Fielding Percentage: IUP (.973, 20)
>> Hits Allowed/Nine Innings: IUP (10.09, 90)
>> Slugging Percentage: IUP (.392, 186)
>> Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio: IUP (1.77, 86)
>> On-Base Percentage: IUP (.390, 126)
FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR IUP FIFTH-YEAR PLAYERS
>> IUP has a pair of fifth-year leaders on the team in
Harrison Pontoli and
Mark Edeburn.
>> The duo played in Cary, N.C. as freshmen for the Crimson Hawks in 2020 during the team's Spring Break trip. IUP went 3-2 during that trip in March 2020.
>> Now, Pontoli and Edeburn will close their collegiate careers in Cary at the USA Baseball Training Center.
LEADING OFF/QUICK NOTES
>> IUP has set a single-season record in wins (38) and will match the school record for games played (55).
>> This marks the first NCAA DII College World Series appearance for the Crimson Hawks.
>> IUP boasts a 30-2 record when leading after six innings this season.
>> The IUP pitching staff has tossed 12 complete games this season, the most in NCAA DII (includes seven and nine inning games).
>> IUP is outscoring opponents 41-25 in the first inning of games this season.
>>
Bryce Devan clamped down the Seton Hill lineup out of the bullpen with 3.2 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief. Devan had four strikeouts, pumping up the velocity as a true freshman out of the IUP bullpen.
ALL-PSAC DUO LEADS IUP OFFENSIVELY
>> Despite the success of the program, IUP had just two All-PSAC West Second Team selections this season in
Harrison Pontoli and
Ricardo Aponte.
>> A converted catcher, Aponte has burst onto the scene as a sophomore as one of IUP's top all-around players. Aponte is batting .325 in 54 games with 13 doubles and 46 RBI.
>> Aponte is slashing .371 against left-handed pitching this season and .358 with runners on base. He was particularly clutch in the NCAA DII Atlantic Region One Tournament, going 6-for-14 (.428) with seven RBI.
>> Aponte ranks 10th in program history in single-season hits (62) in 2024.
>> Pontoli has played in 198 career games as a Crimson Hawk since 2020 and has put together an accomplished collegiate career during that stretch. A three-time All-PSAC selection and 2022 NCBWA All-Region selection, Pontoli is hitting .297 and ranks second on the team with 62 hits.
>> Pontoli is among the most accomplished batters in program history, ranking third in hits (217), fifth in doubles (38), sixth in home runs (18), fourth in RBI (142), third in runs scored (159) and fifth in stolen bases (42).
EDEBURN LEADING THE IUP STARTING ROTATION
>>
Mark Edeburn has been the ace of a strong IUP starting rotation in 2024. The school's all-time leader in innings pitched in a season (84.1) and career (254.1), Edeburn has made a team-high 13 starts in 2024.
>> Edeburn boasts a 7-2 record in 2024 with five complete games this season. He owns a 3.63 ERA with 52 strikeouts and just 18 walks. His next start will match the program record for starts in a season, held by Chris Douglass (14) in 2011.
>>
Derrick Shields (7-4, 5.05 ERA, 66 K) has become a key member of the IUP rotation with four complete games on the mound. He went the distance with a nine inning complete game victory against West Chester on May 17, notching six punchouts.
>> Shields' 66 strikeouts this season are among the top 15 in program history. His 1.29 walks allowed/nine innings ranks 11th in DII.
>>
Jake Black (5-3, 4.38 ERA, 53 K) and
Nathan Mankoski (3-0, 4.34 ERA, 27 K) have also been key members of the IUP rotation this season.
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE UP THE MIDDLE
>> IUP has been stout defensively this season, beginning with a strong trio up the middle in catcher
Davin Landers, shortstop
David Kessler and center fielder
Au'sean Owens.
>> The Crimson Hawks have turned 35 double plays this season.
>> IUP has surrendered three or fewer runs in 23 contests.
THE LINEUP
>> Elsewhere in the IUP lineup, power hitters
Brady Yard (.318 AVG, 7 2B, 35 RBI) and Andrew Sicisnki (.315 AVG, 4 2B, 20 RBI) provide some pop in the top half of the lineup.
>> The Crimson Hawks have shuffled the lineup at times due to injury with
Robert Carfagno,
Blaise Zeiders and
Elijah Dunn patrolling right field at various points of the season.
>> Dunn played a big role in the NCAA Super Regional Championship game against Seton Hill, delivering the go-ahead double in the sixth inning with two runs scored.
>>
Peyton Johnson is second on the team with eight doubles as a starter at third base. Johnson racked up six hits over the three-game NCAA Super Regional series last weekend against Seton Hill, posting two doubles and two RBI during that stretch.
CAREER STATS AT A GLANCE
>>
Mark Edeburn: 48 APP, 39 GS, 19-15 Rec, 4.39 ERA, 254.1 IP, 190 K
>>
Harrison Pontoli: 198 GP, .316 AVG, 159 R, 38 2B, 12 3B, 18 HR, 142 RBI, 106 BB, 42 SB
>>
Davin Landers: 104 GP, .292 AVG, 14 2B, 6 HR, 52 RBI
>>
Au'sean Owens: 155 GP, .255 AVG, 7 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 45 RBI, 68 BB, 49 SB
>>
Peyton Johnson: 138 GP, .280 AVG, 28 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 71 RBI, 70 BB
>>
David Kessler: 94 GP, .272 AVG, 14 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 49 RBI, 26 BB
>>
Brady Yard: 81 GP, .310 AVG, .455 SLG%, 12 2B, 5 HR, 49 RBI
>>
Derrick Shields: 26 APP, 10-6 Rec, 4.49 ERA, 5 CG, 113 K, 20 BB
>>
Elijah Dunn: 68 GP, .251 AVG, .535 SLG%, 32 R, 13 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 43 RBI, .356 OBP
FOLLOW
For coverage of the IUP baseball program, follow the Crimson Hawks on X (Twitter) and Instagram @IUPBaseball and online at IUPathletics.com.
