IUP’s pitching and defense kept them in the game and the offense finally broke through as the Crimson Hawks came from behind and beat top-seeded Central Missouri, 4-3, in the College World Series in Cary, North Carolina.
Saltsburg High grad Brady Yard lifted a shallow sacrifice fly to right field to score Ricardo Aponte with the go-ahead run in the 8th after Harrison Pontoli had scored on Andrew Sicinski’s single to tie the game.
The 9th inning was a thrill ride for IUP. Catcher Davin Landers gunned down Jacob Steel attempting to steal second, then after a walk, the Hawks turned a spectacular around the horn double play, with third baseman Peyton Johnson taking a grounder, throwing to Pontoli at second, and Pontoli avoiding a wipeout slide on the throw to first, where Zach Miller stretched and tapped the bag for the game’s final out. After Central Missouri challenged the call at first, it was confirmed and IUP had won.
Sicinski and Pontoli each had two hits and Au’Sean Owens had the only other IUP hit as Central Missouri’s Jack Scott threw well, striking out ten IUP batters.
Derrick Shields gave up two runs on five hits over 5-and-a-third innings for IUP, with Jimmy Tooley, Jason Madrak, and Bryce Devan in relief.
IUP coach Steve Kline says his team had to battle to win this one.
Kline charged up his team with a fiery speech in the 6th inning, when the Crimson Hawks were struggling against Scott.
Kline says he’s enjoying watching his Hawks play.
The coach says he knows his hitters can be better at the plate, but they’re running into some tough pitching.
Sicinski says the Crimson Hawks never give up.
Pontoli felt good at the plate against Jack Scott.
Next up for IUP is a rematch with Point Loma, which beat the Crimson Hawks 2-1 in Saturday’s opening game. Point Loma was beaten by 8th seeded Angelo State, 13-5 yesterday. The game will be tomorrow at 1:30.
In the other half of the bracket, Catawba plays University of Indianapolis today and Southern New Hampshire takes on Tampa.
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