IUP splits weekend with Mercyhurst

The Crimson Hawks broke even with Mercyurst after losing both doubleheaders Saturday in Erie, and then coming back to IUP Sunday to even out the losses with two victories.

Saturday, the Hawks lost the first game 10-2, and were unable to hold on to a slim lead in the second game, losing 5-2.

Tied at zero in the bottom of the third, Mercyhurst started putting up some runs.

After Kevin McCall was walked, Ethan Santora got on base from an error and Craig Denman was hit by a pitch, things started going down hill for IUP. Mercyhurst put up 10 runs from six hits.

Mike Lupia hit a two-run RBI double for the Hawks in the sixth inning, but they were held scoreless in the final inning.

IUP pitcher Ben Weimer (0-2) got the loss after giving up six runs in two innings.

Mercyhurst pitcher Eric Aschley (4-1) pitched five innings, and gave up three runs.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Hawks got off to an early start with an RBI by Mike Lupia, but two runs by Mercyhurst switched momentum.

Frank Sirolli picked up the second RBI on a ground ball, but the two runs were the only runs scored for IUP.

Mercyhurst put up three more runs and swept the Hawks, 5-2.

Greg Stewart (3-2) lost his second game after giving up three runs in four innings.

Ben Rawding (2-0) picked up the win for  Mercyhurst pitching all seven innings, giving up only two hits and four runs in the process.

On Sunday, the Crimson Hawks were down early  but rallied late to win the first game 7-6 in extra innings and ended the afternoon with another rally, sweeping Mercyhurst with a 6-3 win.

In the first game, Mercyhurst got off to a good start with two runs in the first inning. Bill Gerstenslage brought in the first runner with an RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Ethan Santora.

Mercyhurst added three more runs between the fifth and the sixth innings to bring the lead to five runs.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, with two outs and one man on base, The Hawks managed to score five runs to tie the game up at 5.

Sirolli and Mike Lupia were both walked. Aaron Lupia followed with an RBI single to bring Sirolli in for the first run. Dylan Songer continued the hitting with an RBI single. Tyler Mroz continued the hitting streak, which allowed Aaron Lupia to score.

Andrew Welch put the final two runs on the board with an RBI double. The Hawks left one man on base after Brett Quiggle was called out on a line ball, but the four hits in a row for the Hawks, plus the walked batters was enough to tie the game up at five.

With the game tied, Gerstenslage hit a home run to increase the led to one run. But IUP was not going to be denied of a victory, as Mike Lupia picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, with two men on base, Sirolli hit an RBI double to bring in the winning run.

Stephen Cooke (3-4) got the win after he pitched the final two innings and gave up one run on three hits.

Mercyhurst pitcher Matthew Jimenez (1-1) got the loss after coming in a tied game and gave up the winning run.

The second game was very familiar as Mercyhurst got off to yet another good start with three runs in

the second inning.

In the fourth inning, the hawks closed the gap with two runs. RBI singles by both Vern Powell and Aaron Lupia brought the game within one run, at 3-2.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Hawks put up four more runs, which proved to be too much for Mercyhurst.

The Lupia brothers combined for three RBIs in the sixth inning with Aaron Lupia scoring the fourth run unearned on an error by Mercyhurst first baseman Craig Denman.

Aaron Lupia lead the team with three RBIs from two hits and finished the game with one run.

IUP pitcher Jared Weed (2-1) picked up his second victory after allowing just one hit in five innings.

Mercyhurst pitcher Joe Cochran (0-1) lost his first game of the season after he entered the game in the fourth inning and gave up three runs.

IUP will take the road at 1 p.m. today to face Millersville.