Since getting its start in 2016, IUP Day at PNC Park has become one of the most anticipated alumni events.
IUP Day Takes Alumni Out to the Ballgame
By Bob Fulton
Photos by Brian Henry
As Mary Morgan ’91 and others in the alumni office prepared for the first IUP Day at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, they weren’t sure there would be a second.
Would a midweek Pirates game draw sufficient interest to continue the event? They had their doubts.
“Honestly, we thought maybe this was a one-and-done thing,” said Morgan, who was director of Alumni Relations when the event debuted in 2016 and, now in retirement, is president of the IUP Alumni Association Board of Directors. “Could we even get people out for this? We didn’t know. But the excitement it generated was just incredible. It blew our minds.”
Mark Mahoney delivering the first pitch
IUP Day at PNC Park has since morphed into one of the most anticipated dates on the university’s calendar. The numbers have steadily increased, from some 300 tickets sold for the inaugural event to 723 this year. Fans came from as far away as California.
When she coordinated the very first IUP Day, Sara Barnett Lawer ’06, M’08 couldn’t have imagined such a surge in participation.
“Who would’ve thought from 2016 it would have grown into something like this?” said Lawer, former associate director of Alumni Relations and now vice president of the alumni association board. “It’s pretty amazing, really.”
The 2025 edition of IUP Day at PNC Park, held on a steamy August afternoon, followed a familiar pattern. University alumni, students, employees, and their families enjoyed food and drink together in the Left Field Lounge; they received small gifts from the alumni office and a co-branded IUP-Pirates item—a button-down, white Pirates jersey with crimson and gray trim; and they beamed with pride when IUP was acknowledged on the Jumbotron. In addition, the ceremonial first pitch was again delivered by someone with IUP ties.
This year, that honor went to the winner of a random drawing of those who, between January and August, contributed at least $150 to the university, a nod to the ongoing 150th anniversary celebration of IUP’s founding. Mark Mahoney ’79, who worked in aerospace and as a physical therapist before retiring, came all the way from La Mesa, California, to deliver the first pitch.
What could have been a nerve-racking experience for Mahoney—attempting to throw a strike with more than 21,000 pairs of eyes locked on him—was made more so by one of his buddies.
“I told him I got selected, and he sent me a first-pitch blooper tape,” Mahoney said. “There are people literally throwing the ball into the ground. One lady—the cameraman’s off to the left, 10 feet away, and she hit him right in the head. There were a couple people who threw the ball into the stands. So I was definitely a little worried. I didn’t want to end up on a blooper tape.”
President Michael Driscoll with softball coach Shawna Bellaud
Jenn Luzier Dunsmore ’98 and Mary Morgan ’91 registering guests
Fortunately, IUP baseball coach Steve Kline, a former major league pitcher, was on hand to give Mahoney some pointers and help him relax. Kline was part of a sizable IUP contingent gathered on the diamond before the game.
“I love that this year we had so many opportunities provided to us by the Pirates to get our people down there on the field and to weave IUP into so many things,” said Karen Douglas Cramer ’84, director of Alumni Engagement. “That was really special.”
IUP’s Army ROTC Color Guard, made up of cadets Adrianna Carozza, Julia King, Joshua Scanlan, and Kevin Tate, presented the colors during the singing of the national anthem. And a pregame group salute included President Michael Driscoll; Kline and three of his players, Elijah Dunn, David Kessler, and Derrick Shields; and softball coach Shawna Bellaud and two of her players, Nichole Benvenuti and Madison Griffin.
First-pitch catcher Jake Schramm with son Malcolm
In addition, the Kids Take the Field feature, part of every Sunday game at PNC Park, was reserved exclusively for the children of IUP employees. The youngsters were introduced by the PA announcer before they each trotted to a designated position on the field and were soon joined by the corresponding Pirates starter. The players signed a baseball and exchanged a few words with each of the star-struck youngsters.
“Oh, my gosh, they were so excited,” said nursing faculty member Brittanie Perla, whose children—Mayson, 14; Madilyn, 13; and Myles, 11—took part, matched with second baseman Nick Gonzales, third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and shortstop Jared Triolo, respectively. “We are a baseball-loving family, so just the fact that they got to do that, they were beyond thrilled. It was such a cool experience for all the kids.”
IUP Day at PNC Park was a cool experience for everyone with ties to the university, especially Ashley Smith ’16. Her boyfriend, Scott Knowlson, proposed to her before the game—in the ballpark, with the city skyline as a backdrop. Several IUP classmates, including Mackenzie Dye Baker; Ashley’s sister Courtney Smith ’20; her uncle Robert Sartain ’90; and other friends and family were there to celebrate as she said yes.
Many event participants, like Smith, reconnected with old friends. Some made new ones, and all had an opportunity to mingle with IUP administrators in an informal setting.
“It’s just a great environment to meet other people, other alumni,” Cramer said. “You get to meet some of the IUP leadership. Dr. Driscoll is there. People from the alumni office are there. College deans are there. It’s just a fun time.”
It certainly was for Mahoney, who relished his moment in the spotlight. After his introduction over the PA system, he threw the ceremonial first pitch to his nephew Jake Schramm, with Jake’s toddler son, Malcolm, and Mark’s niece Melissa Osburn standing nearby. Mahoney was relieved he avoided the kind of wayward toss that has landed others on blooper tapes. What’s more, he got to keep the baseball as a souvenir.
The IUP contingent in the Left Field Lounge.
Mahoney so enjoyed his time at IUP Day that he’s considering a return next year, despite the many miles that separate Pittsburgh and his Southern California home.
“It was just an awesome experience,” he said. “It couldn’t have been better. This event was so much fun and so well done. And it was fantastic they had such a great turnout.”
A turnout that Mary Morgan and others in the alumni office could never have imagined was possible back in 2016.