COLUMBUS, Ohio — The IUP Crimson Hawks baseball split the final day of a four-game road series Monday against the Ohio Dominican Panthers baseball, dropping the opener 10-6 before rebounding for a 3-1 victory in the nightcap. The Crimson Hawks finished the series with one win in four games.

In game one, Emillio Rodriguez made the start but lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Braydon May took the loss, his first of the season, after pitching 2.1 innings and surrendering three runs, none of them earned. Three additional IUP pitchers combined to cover the final 2.1 innings.

At the plate, Devon Boyles led the offense with a home run and a double, while Cayden Bender also homered. David Kessler added a double as part of IUP's seven-hit effort. Boyles and Bender combined for four of those hits from the leadoff and three-hole spots in the order.

Game two turned into a pitching duel as Braden Shepherd, Nathan Mankoski, and Anthony Alberty combined to hold Ohio Dominican to one run over nine innings. Mankoski earned his first win of the season after delivering 5.1 shutout innings from the fourth through the ninth. Alberty recorded the save, the first for IUP this season. The Crimson Hawks' pitching staff struck out seven batters.

Offensively, Kessler, Erik Rhodes, and Yaniel Heredia each drove in a run. Catcher Ricardo Aponto produced IUP's only extra-base hit with a double. The teams combined for just 11 hits in the contest, five by the Crimson Hawks.

IUP was also aggressive on the basepaths, recording its highest stolen-base total of the season with five. Five different Crimson Hawks each swiped a base in the victory.

The Crimson Hawks will return home Friday for their home opener when the Shepherd Rams baseball visit South Campus. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.