INDIANA, Pa. -- The IUP baseball team dropped in yesterday's home opener to West Liberty, 15-9, after a nine run inning setback. 

Ricardo Aponte doubled to left center and advanced to third on a single by Mike Huber to left field. Huber then stole second base and both he and Aponte scored on a Peyton Johnson RBI.

Teague Hoover singled to second and then advanced on a passed ball. Mitch Grosch doubled to left field to send Hoover to score, which gave IUP an early 3-0 lead.

In the top of the third, West Liberty hit three consecutive doubles which sent two runners to score. The Hilltoppers added another two runs in the fourth before scoring nine in the fifth, to get ahead by 10.

In the bottom of the fifth, Davin Landers and Cayden Bender both singled, and Hoover was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ausean Owens reached on fielders choice allowing for Landers scored, however two were stranded on base. 

Aponte doubled through the left side and then scored when Elijah Dunn singled in the sixth. In the eighth, West Liberty added another run, but IUP managed to leave two on base. In the bottom of the eighth, IUP scored four runs on four hits, with Huber, Dunn, Johnson, and Bender all crossing the plate.

Up Next
IUP opens PSAC West action on Friday, March 21 with a doubleheader against Seton Hill starting at 1:00 p.m.

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