IUP Soars to Victory Over Fairmont State, Thanks to Dunn’s Stellar Performance – Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Morgantown, W.Va. – IUP showcased their strength with an impressive 8-3 victory over Fairmont State University. Elijah Dunn led the charge with two home runs, while the team turned up the heat in the seventh inning to secure the win.

It was truly a team effort. Jake Black pitched six solid innings, achieving an ERA of 1.5 and striking out nine. Dunn’s two home runs accounted for four crucial runs. Ricardo Aponte set the pace with an on-base percentage of .800 and two stolen bases, while Peyton Johnson came through with two key RBIs and made important defensive plays.

With this win, IUP improved to 2-5, while Fairmont State fell to 2-4.

Dunn kicked off the scoring with a three-run home run in the first inning. IUP’s defense quickly struck out three batters in a row to close the inning. In the second, both Davin Landers and Mitchell Grosch were hit by pitches, but IUP couldn’t convert that into runs. On the mound, Black continued to shine with three consecutive strikeouts. Dunn kept the momentum going in the third with another solo homer, extending the lead to 4-0 as Fairmont State’s batters were retired without scoring.

The fourth and fifth innings saw little action, with quick outs for both teams. Aponte exhibited his speed by stealing second base, though he was caught trying to advance to third. IUP struggled to capitalize on base runners, and Fairmont State eventually scored their first run with an RBI single, bringing the score to 4-1.

The standout moment came in the seventh inning when IUP exploded for five runs. Aponte started the scoring by crossing home plate after Mike Huber hit a double. Cameron Copple followed with a single, putting Huber on third. The bases loaded up after Robert Carfagno was hit, and Johnson delivered a clutch single to bring both Copple and Huber home. Landers added to the score with a single that drove Carfagno in. Even when the Falcons threatened to respond with the bases loaded, Johnson’s defensive play halted their momentum.

The eighth inning was quieter for IUP, with only Aponte stealing another base. Fairmont State managed to score once more, closing the gap to 8-2. Some new faces stepped up for IUP, but the inning ended with three quick outs. Sebastian Rosado-Guindin and Jacob Jewett wrapped up the game on the mound after Fairmont State added a final run, securing an 8-3 victory for IUP.

Next week, IUP will play against Shepherd at home, starting at 1:00 p.m.



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