Pitt-Johnstown allowed a late lead to evaporate in an 8-5 loss in the opener before seizing an 8-3 victory in the nightcap to split a doubleheader against IUP on Wednesday afternoon. Since both teams had fields that were unplayable due to standing water, the games were played at Saint Francis University in Loretto.

The Mountain Cats collected 24 hits over the two contests and closed the day at 6-18 overall (3-7 PSAC).

Game One—IUP 8, Pitt-Johnstown 5

Despite racking up eight hits, including three home runs, the Mountain Cats could not hang on to a two-run lead in the latter stages after IUP scored seven combined runs over the fifth and sixth innings.

Julia Mooney crushed a solo home run with two outs in the first to give Pitt-Johnstown an early 1-0 lead. After IUP tied the game, Brynnae Coe led off the second with a single and later scored when Mia Smith smacked a two-run home run that made it 3-1.

It remained that way until the fifth when the Hawks recorded two hits and took advantage of four walks to go on top 5-3. They tacked on three more on four hits in the sixth to extend it to 8-3.

Pinch-hitter Krista Brunson led off the seventh with a double and Hannah Gnibus followed with a two-run blast to cut the deficit to 8-5, but it's all the closer the Mountain Cats would get.

Smith went the distance in the circle and was charged with the loss. She gave up eight runs, seven earned, on seven hits with a season-high 10 strikeouts and seven walks.

Game Two—Pitt-Johnstown 8, IUP 3

Pitt-Johnstown's lineup continued to produce throughout game two. After going down 1-0 in the third, the Mountain Cats offense came to life with four runs on five hits to take control.

Gnibus led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI hit from Mooney. Gianna Surra singled and Jenna Tallman walked to load the bases. After a fielder's choice, Sara Solberg recorded an infield single with two outs to bring home both Surra and Tallman with the help of an error and make it 4-1.

Tallman extended it to 5-1 in the fourth after stroking a single to left to score Mooney, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.

IUP tightened it to 5-3 in the sixth before Pitt-Johnstown tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the inning.

Mooney jump started a rally with a leadoff single and Emma DiStefano came on as a pinch-runner. Isabella DePalma followed with a single to put two on with no outs. Two batters later, Smith checked in as a pinch-hitter and cracked a long 3-run home run that afforded the Mountain Cats plenty of breathing room with just three outs to get.

Mahlon Yonkin earned her second win of the season in the circle, allowing just three runs, two earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts and a walk.

Brunson enjoyed a 4-for-4 performance with two doubles and an RBI for the Mountain Cats. The four home runs against the Hawks were the most over any two-game stretch this season.

Elizabeth Kasper was charged with the loss for IUP, which fell to 19-9 overall (10-4 PSAC).

Pending any weather disruptions, Pitt-Johnstown is scheduled to visit Slippery Rock for a PSAC West doubleheader on Friday beginning at 2:30 p.m.