INDIANA, Pa. – Mansfield came from behind in both games to earn a PSAC Central sweep at IUP and claim a share of the lead in the PSAC Central division Tuesday afternoon at Podbielski Field.
 
The Mounties won the opener 5-4 before cruising to a 9-2 win in the nightcap.
 
The sweep vaults Mansfield, now 3-1 in the division, into two-way tie for first place in the PSAC Central along with Bloomsburg. Mansfield and Bloomsburg split their division-opening doubleheader at Helen Lutes Field this past Thursday.
 
Game 1
Mansfield put runners aboard in both the second and third innings, but IUP struck first with Lauren Goetz driving in a run in the bottom of the third.
 
In the top of the fourth, Anastasia Hester reached on a two-out wild pitch following a strikeout and later scored on a Leah McGovern double in the gap. Lacey O'Donnell put runners on the corners with a single into left field before Joelle Snyder drove in another run with a single up the middle to give Mansfield the lead. Alli McGovern capped the four-run, two-out rally with a bases-clearing double into left to bring in two more runs.
 
Renee Wall hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth and Goetz scored another in the fifth as IUP pulled within a run at 4-3.
 
Hester led-off the top of the sixth with a single into right field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and passed ball. An error by the second basemen allowed Hester to score and give the Mounties a 5-3 advantage.
 
Facing final at bats, IUP got runners on first and second with one out before Jenna Rhue loaded the bases with a single into right field. Wall drew a walk to force in a run and bring the Crimson Hawks deficit to 5-4. Mansfield pitcher Arianna Young ended the threat by forcing a pop-up to third base as the Mounties held on for the win.
 
Young earned her third win of the season, pitching a complete game effort with 11 hits and two walks allowed and four strikeouts. Lauren Zola took the loss.
 
Snyder and Alli McGovern each totaled a pair of hits in the game for Mansfield with Hester scoring twice.
 
Game 2
IUP was first to get on the board again, with a run in the bottom of the first. However, the Mounties quickly tied the game with Devin Jones scoring on a fielding error in the top of the second. Jones reached on a lead-off walk before advancing to second on a ground out and stealing third.
 
Snyder opened the top of the third with a single and scored on an Alli McGovern double to left field. Deshea Jones got aboard with a single and Devin Jones reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Lesley Fritz and Alex Hein drove in runs before Devin Jones scored on a wild pitch. Alexis Easling helped her own cause by scoring Rebeca Pizzo on an RBI double to left center to cap a five-run inning and lead 6-1.
 
Snyder and Fritz each drove in runs in the fifth and sixth innings to increase the Mansfield lead to 8-1. IUP added a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut its deficit to 8-2.
 
The Mounties refused to take their foot off the pedal as Snyder and Alli McGovern reached on two-out singles before Deshae Jones singled up the middle to score another run. The Hawks were unable to rally for the win as Mansfield completed the sweep with a 9-2 win in game two.
 
Easling won her fifth game in the circle, allowing 11 hits and no walks while fanning five batters in a complete game effort. Brooklyn Kotula took the loss for IUP.
 
The Mounties' first three batters of the line-up in Snyder, Alli McGovern, and Deshae Jones each collected three hits to go a combined 9-for-13 in game two. Snyder and Jones each scored a pair of runs along with Devin Jones.
 
The Mountaineers travel to Clarion on Friday before hosting Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday and Bowie State Sunday.