ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University softball team finally played some games at home Monday afternoon. But the Crimson Hawks of Indiana University of Pennsylvania proved to be very rude visitors, sweeping the Lakers by scores of 10-3 and 10-0. IUP improved to 6-12 overall and to 4-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West. The Lakers, struggling to practice outside - let alone play games – because of the miserable spring weather, dropped to 6-14 and 0-5 respectively.
 
In the opener, the Crimson Hawks hit four homeruns in a 15-hit attack. IUP scored five times on six hits in the second and coasted from there. The big blow in the inning was a three-run blast from sophomore Hannah Mercer. The visitors' lead grew to 6-0 before Mercyhurst junior infielder Taylor Jezuit hit her first collegiate homerun, a two-run shot, in the last of the fourth.
 
But, the Crimson Hawks countered with a solo homer from Allison Viguers in the sixth and back-to-back homers in the seventh - a two-run shot by Meghan Carney followed by a solo four-bagger by Lauren Hogue -  to reach double digits. The Lakers got an RBI single from sophomore Rachel DiBartolomeo in the bottom half to conclude the scoring.
 
IUP senior Alexa Campbell (3-6) picked up the complete-game win, allowing six hits. Mercyhurst senior Alexandra Puckly (3-6) went six innings-plus in absorbing the loss. Freshman Heather Nye relieved in the seventh.
 
Junior Tawny Godin and DiBartolomeo had two hits apiece for Mercyhurst.
 
Prior to the first game, the Lakers had given up only four homeruns in their first 18 games while the Crimson Hawks had hit only five in their first 16.
 
In the nightcap, IUP scored three times in the second against senior Annie Truelove. The inning included IUP's fifth homer of the afternoon, a two-run shot by Rachel Francis.
 
The Crimson Hawks then exploded for six runs in the fourth, taking advantage of two Mercyhurst errors and three walks, to jump in front by a 9-0 margin. Truelove could not get out of the fourth and was relieved by Nye, who allowed three runs to score - all charged to the Laker starter.

Truelove finished by going three-plus innings and allowing nine runs (eight earned) and eight hits. She walked four and did not strike out a batter.

IUP added an unearned run in the top of the fifth inning against sophomore Francesca Costanzo, who was making her first collegiate appearance on the mound.

Mercyhurst threatened to extend the game in the bottom of the fifth, but could not dent the scoreboard.
 
Truelove (3-7) took the loss while sophomore pitcher Amanda Spindler (2-6) benefited from a potent IUP attack to record the victory. The Lakers could muster just two hits against Spindler - a double by junior Shannon Minihane in the third and a single from junior Kayla Larson in the fifth.
 
The teams are scheduled to reconvene in Indiana on Tuesday afternoon for a pair of contests. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.