Box Score

DRIFTON, PA - In a game that featured 24 runs, 25 hits, and 14 errors, IUP completed a comeback with five runs in each of the fourth and seventh innings, blasting four total homeruns as the Crimson Hawks defeated Lock Haven 14-10 on the second day of the 2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Softball Tournament at the ASA of PA Jake Kislan Softball Complex on Thursday.

The victory was the third for IUP in the tournament, as the Crimson Hawks stay in the winner's bracket and will play another PSAC Central division opponent in Bloomsburg on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m.

IUP and Lock Haven combined to score at least once in every single inning except for the sixth, an inning that produced just one base runner and no hits.

The scoring got underway in the top of the first as the Crimson Hawks put Marissa Leslie (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) and Monica Iachini (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) in scoring position before Jasa Mitchell (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) walked to load the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly by Tara Waldo (Pittsburgh/Baldwin) gave IUP the first run of the game with Leslie crossing the plate while the first error of the game moved the two remaining runners into scoring position.

Another error on the next play allowed Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn) to reach and Iachini to score before the third walk of the inning loaded the bases again. That preceded the third error of the inning, as Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge) reached while Mitchell crossed the plate to make it 3-0.

Lock Haven came right back in the bottom half, getting a lead off single by Brittany Favazza followed by a sacrifice bunt to get into scoring position with one out. That's when IUP's first error came, scoring a run to make it 3-1. A single and error then put a pair of runners in scoring position as Chelsea Edwards singled home both runners to tie the score. She later scored to give Lock Haven a 4-3 lead on a single by Alicia Cacciotti.

The Crimson Hawks went scoreless in the second, but Lock Haven used a single, an error, and a couple of steals to add a pair of runs to its lead as the Bald Eagles took a 6-3 lead into the third.

Mitchell helped the Crimson Hawks put one more on the board, blasting a homer to lead off the inning to cut Lock Haven's lead to 6-4. The Bald Eagles then came back with their own homer in the next half, putting two on for Favazza, who hit one over the fence to put Lock Haven ahead 9-4.

The comeback started quickly for the Crimson Hawks, getting five back in the fifth inning to tie the score at 9-9. Leslie, Iachini and McCormick led off the inning with singles to load the bases. Two batters later Waldo singled to center, bringing home both Leslie and Iachini. Ashley Strack (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) helped bring around McCormick, reaching on an error, before another single by Jen Beaver (Chester Springs/Owen J. Roberts) brought Waldo around to make it 9-8 Lock Haven.

Batting for the second time in the inning, Leslie got another infield single, bringing Strack across the plate, tying the score at 9-9.

After back-to-back scoreless half innings, the Bald Eagles got back on top in the bottom of the fifth, using a leadoff double by Cacciotti, eventually scoring on an error to take a 10-9 lead into the sixth.

After that scoreless inning, Beaver led off the top of the seventh with a solo shot to tie the score at 10-10. That would be the first of five runs inthe inning for the Crimson Hawks, as McCormick had a two-run shot three batters later to put IUP on top 12-10. After a pitching change by Lock Haven, the Bald Eagles managed an out before Waldo singled to left center, setting the table for Waldo who put the pitch over the fence in left for IUP's third homer of the inning to give the Crimson Hawks a 14-10 lead.

Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ), who entered in the fourth inning for starter Kelly King (Nazareth/Bethlehem Catholic), then allowed just one hit by Lock Haven in the seventh, closing out the game and finishing off the comeback for the Crimson Hawks.

The Bald Eagles tallied nine hits on the day, getting two from Favazza, who also drove in three runs and scored three of her own.

IUP racked up 16 hits on the day, as Leslie went 5-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Waldo also had quite a day for IUP, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, while McCormick and Beaver also had multi-hit games.

Campbell, seeing her first action on the circle since Gannon on March 26, picked up the win to move to 6-5 on the year, giving up two hits and one run in four innings of work. King threw just three innings and gave up seven hits, but just one of the nine runs she gave up was earned.

The Crimson Hawks went 1-3 against Bloomsburg in the regular season, including a 12-4 five-inning win in Indiana on April 13.

The loss for Lock Haven bumps the Bald Eagles down to the loser's bracket where they'll play Mercyhurst on Friday in an elimination game.