Mounties Rally Twice to Sweep IUP and Move Into Tie For Third Place in the PSAC Central

MANSFIELD – Megan Miller doubled in the winning runs in the fifth inning of the opener and the Mountaineers scored the winning run late in the game off an IUP error in the nightcap as Mansfield rallied twice to sweep IUP 4-3 and 2-1 in a critical PSAC Central softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Helen Lutes Field.

The sweep moved Mansfield into a tie for third place in the PSAC Central with IUP and Pitt-Johnstown.

In the opener, IUP jumped out to a 3-0 lead after scoring a run in each of the first three innings of the game.

Mansfield broke through in the bottom of the third when Melanie Taylor led off the inning with a home run over the centerfield fence. The home run was followed by another solo shot, this one by Koryn Wickwire closing the gap to 3-2 after three innings of play.

Mansfield starter Ashley Inman held IUP scoreless over the next two innings before Mansfield came to the plate in the bottom of the fifth.

After one out, Wickwire drew a walk followed by a single from Rachael Sterner that advanced Wickwire to second. Miller, the next batter, followed with a lined shot to right to double in both runners giving Mansfield a 4-3 lead.

Inman was masterful in the final two innings holding the Crimson Hawks to just one hit and retired the side in order in the seventh to preserve the win.

Inman scattered five hits in the game and allowed just one earned run while striking out seven to pick up her sixth win of the season.

Taylor had two hits in the game including her third home run of the season while Wickwire hit her first round-tripper of the year. Sterner went 2-for-3 while Miller doubled in two runs.

Hannah Mercer and Amanda Parrish each had two hits to lead IUP.

In the nightcap, IUP broke up a scoreless tie with a run in the third on a RBI single by Megan Gould.

Mansfield responded with a run of its own to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. Laura Lawson led off with a single up the middle and stole second. One out later, Wickwire delivered a double to left center to plate Lawson and tie the score at 1-1.

The two teams held each other for the next two and a half innings until Mansfield scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the sixth.

Miller led off with a single through the right side and was pinch ran for by Kaitlyn Hewitt who moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kayla Hahn. With two outs, Hewitt moved to third on a wild pitch and scored with Leah McGovern's soft liner was mishandled allowing what proved to be the winning run to score.

Storm allowed just two hits over the final four innings using an array of pitches to keep IUP off balance. She went the distance to pick up her fifth win in eight decisions scattering six hits and striking out one.
Wirewick led the offense going 2-3 with a double and driving in a run. Miller also doubled.

Megan Gould went 2-3 with a run batted in for IUP while Brooke Darling took the loss despite striking out seven.

Mansfield University head coach Edith Gallagher was honored during pregame ceremonies for getting her 400th coaching victory earlier in the season.

Mansfield travels to Clarion Friday afternoon before returning to Helen Lutes Field for a doubleheader with Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday.