ASTON, Pa. – Neumann University was able to hold off a furious rally in the top of the ninth inning by Immaculata University to defeat the Mighty Macs, 12-10, on Friday afternoon in a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) baseball contest.

Immaculata (11-22, 5-11 CSAC) came up to the plate in the ninth trailing by seven runs and were able to score five runs before being retired as Neumann escaped with the 12-10 win. Chris Dickinson led the inning off with a walk, and advanced to third as David News doubled. Rick Gehman then singled, plating Dickinson and advancing News to third. Matt Hardy then walked for the Mighty Macs to load the bases. With one out, Joe Rawlings hit a three-RBI triple to left that cleared the bases for Immaculata. Rawlings then scored on a balk by the Knights pitcher, capping the five-run inning. 

News and Rawlings each were 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Rawlings had five RBI. Six other players had one hit apiece as the Mighty Macs scattered 10 hits during the game.

Aaron Dietrich (3-7) started the game and went 5.2 innings in the loss. He allowed 11 runs, only five earned, on 10 hits. He struck out three and walked five. Joe Caria pitched 1.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit, and Ernell Harley went 0.2 innings, retiring both batters he faced.

Neumann (17-13-1, 11-5 CSAC) jumped on the board in the second innings with seven runs. The Knights added one run in the fourth, three tallies in the sixth and one more run in the seventh to lead 12-5.

For Neumann, Josh Krautwald pitched six innings to get the win. He allowed five runs, four earned, and six hits. He walked four and struck out five.

Immaculata and Neumann will be back on the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.