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March 26, 2008
After either sweeping or splitting its first nine doubleheaders of the season, IUP lost both ends of a twinbill for the first time this season in 5-4 and 7-2 defeats at Seton Hill on Wednesday. The Crimson Hawks (16-7) had swept six doubleheaders and split three others in starting the season with 16 wins in 20 games. In the first game against Seton Hill, the Griffins (8-12) took advantage of a pair of IUP errors to score three unearned runs in the first three innings in taking a 4-0 lead. IUP battled back to cut its deficit in half in the fifth. Shawn Schwarz singled and Corey Betz doubled with one out. An error on a grounder to short by Mark Woleslagle and fielders's choice grounder by Ryan Mostyn produced the two runs that made it 4-2. Seton Hill added an important insurance run in the sixth before IUP nearly pulled the game out in the seventh. Woleslagle singled in a run and pinch runner Brian Urban came across on a passed ball to make it a one-run game, but the Crimson Hawks could not push across the tying tally. Mostyn produced the first run of the nightcap with a second inning sacrifice fly that scored Schwarz, who singled earlier in the frame for his third hit of the doubleheader. The Griffins struck right back for four in their half of the second, including a two-run double by Andrew Kirsch that gave Seton Hill a lead it would not relinquish. Shayne Busti doubled and scored on a single by Kyle Stryker in the third to make it 4-2, but IUP did not dent the plate again. Seton Hill got only two hits in the game against the IUP pitching quintet of Chris Hannigan, Greg Stewart, Shane Melhorn, Josh Hildebrand and Gabe Grinder but took advantage of three errors and seven walks to produce its seven runs. IUP is scheduled to play its first four PSAC West games of the season against Friday and Saturday, but weather and field conditions may change that schedule. |
