ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst softball team split a pair of games with visiting IUP Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Softball Field. 

The spectators in attendance were treated to a come from behind 3-2 victory for the Lakers in game one. Mercyhurst put together a furious comeback bid in game two forcing extra innings but dropped an 11-8 decision in eight. 

In the opener, Mercyhurst trailed 2-1 going to the bottom of the sixth. Allison Dejidas delivered an RBU single in the sixth to knot the game 2-2. 

After an IUP misplay put Chloe McQuestion on second base in the seventh, the Lakers capitalized with a walk and wild pitch moving runners to second and third. The Crimson Hawks were forced to try to make a play at the plate on a Brianne Egelston ground ball, but M question beat the throw for the walk-off 3-2 win. 

Mikaela Schramski got a no-decision as the starter allowing two runs in 5.1 innings of work while striking out five. Kaitlin Hoffner picked up the win with 1.2 of scoreless, hitless work. Marisa Cartellone picked up the other Laker RBI. 

In game two the Lakers fell behind 7-2. In the bottom of the fifth, Sarah Koscho launched her fourth home run of the season, this one a two-run blast, to cut the lead to 7-4. 

In the sixth, Mercyhurst struck for three runs keyed by RBI hits from Egelston and Dejidas to tie the game at seven. 

The game would need extra innings. IUP scored four times in the top of the eighth to grab an 11-7 advantage. Cheyenne Hindman singled home Egelston, but that was all the Lakers would get to set the final 11-8. 

Dejidas, Koscho and McQuestion each tallied three hits. Hindman took the loss in the circle allowing five runs, four earned in 4.2 innings of relief work striking out four. 

The Lakers and Crimson Hawks will finish up their   four-game series on Sunday at IUP. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.