WILMINGTON, Del. — The IUP baseball team snapped their six-game losing streak in the first game after two five-run innings propelled them over Wilmington, 10-6 in game one of the day. In the second game, IUP came close but ultimately dropped 6-5.
Game 1 |
Wilmington scored two early runs before adding a third in the bottom of the second.
IUP scored five runs in the top of the fourth to get out a 5-3 lead. Elijah Dunn singled to center, followed by a Peyton Johnson walk. Davin Landers' sacrifice fly brought Dunn home, and Camden Rhude reached on a fielder's choice before Cameron Copple drew a walk. Au'sean Owens then delivered a clutch double to center, scoring Copple and Rhude to tie the game at 3-3. After a Wilmington pitching change, Mitchell Grosch homered to left field, giving IUP a 5-3 advantage.
Wilmington responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to reclaim the lead, 6-5.
IUP answered in the ninth with another five-run inning. Grosch began the inning with a double to left center and then both Mike Huber and Cayden Bender drew walks to load the bases. Johnson's single through the left side brought Grosch home, and three consecutive walks plated three more runs. Owens then singled down the left field line to score Landers before the final two outs.
IUP held off Wilmington in the bottom of the inning to secure the 10-6 win to break their six-game losing streak.
Game 2 |
Grosch singled to shortstop and was then picked off. Huber drew a walk and later scored on Dunn's RBI double to center.
In the bottom of the second, Wilmington doubled and then homered to put two on the board.
Dunn tied the game in the fourth, scoring on Landers' single to center. IUP regained the lead in the fifth as three singles brought Grosch home, followed by Dunn's sacrifice fly that scored Ricardo Aponte. IUP ended the inning up by two, 4-2.
In the fifth and sixth Wilmington scored another four runs to jump ahead 6-4.
In the seventh, Grosch reached on catcher's interference and advanced to second on an Aponte single. Huber's sacrifice bunt moved both runners up, and Dunn's sacrifice fly to center plated Grosch, bringing IUP within one. A flyout ended the inning, falling just short in the second game, 6-5.
Up Next
IUP returns to action for their home opener on Tuesday, March 18 at 1:00 p.m. against West Liberty.
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