Let’s play three. IUP’s Davin Landers stroked a three-run homer in the eighth inning Saturday, and the Crimson Hawks edged Seton Hill, 9-8, to even the best-of-three NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regional series at a game apiece and send the teams to a third, deciding game Sunday. “Nothing better than playing baseball on Memorial Day weekend,” IUP coach Steve Kline said.
“For me, it’s like going back to the pros and playing back-to-back-to-back days.” Kline, in his third season at IUP, spent 11 years the major leagues as a relief pitcher, leading the National League in appearances three consecutive times from 1999-2001. Landers’ shot, over the left-field fence off Ian Korn (3-1), erased a 7-6 deficit and set up a Game 3 at 1 p.
m. Sunday at Owen J. Dougherty Field in Indiana.
It had been scheduled as part of a Saturday doubleheader, if needed, but was moved back a day because of the threat of inclement weather. Officials made the decision to make the switch after reports of lightning strikes, which, if detected during the game, would have delayed it by 30 minutes in every instance. “Sitting around and waiting is the problem,” Kline said.
He said Sunday’s rescheduled game represents “another day to hang out with my team. It’s a beautiful thing. “And it’s really hard to win a doubleheader,” he said.
“Winning two games in one day is tough against a real good opponent.” The series winner advances to the D-II World Series, beginning Saturday, J.
