BOX SCORE

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.- The Immaculata baseball team (1-3) fell into an early hole trailing 6-1 after two innings at Methodist (7-5) and were unable to come back from the deficit on their way to a 6-3 defeat on the second game of their three game road trip.  The game was played under wet and overcast conditions as it was delayed twice for 45 minutes apiece due to fog and rain.
 
After falling behind early, the Mighty Mac bullpen was outstanding with five and two-thirds shutout innings combined between senior Joseph Caria (2 2/3 IP) and freshman Nicholas Campione (3 IP) which gave Immaculata several chances to get back into the game offensively.  They had threats in the eighth and ninth after pulling to within 6-3 after six innings, but the Mighty Macs were unable to pull any closer.
 
Senior left fielder Matt Hardy got the scoring started in the top of the first with a solo home run to give the Mighty Macs a 1-0 lead.  The long ball was Hardy's first of the season and school-best 15^th of his career.
 
The lead did not last long as the Monarchs responded with a two-run, two-out rally to take a 2-1 lead after one off of junior starting pitcher Alex Kobylinski (0-1).
 
Methodist extended their lead with another two-out rally in the second inning, but this time they scored four runs to take a 6-1 lead after two innings.  After collecting the first two outs, Kobylinski surrendered a walk and single to put two runners on with two outs.  Steven Kirby then delivered a two-run double for the first two runs.  Methodist then loaded the bases and an error by junior second baseman Elijah Vottero allowed the final two runs of the frame to score.
 
Kobylinski's day came to an end in the bottom of the third as Caria came on in relief to escape the two on, one-out jam as Immaculata continued to trail 6-1 after three.  Kobylinski went two and one-third innings surrendering six runs (four earned) on five hits and five walks.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Mighty Macs put two runners on with two outs with a walk by freshman first baseman Michael Lascomb and a single by freshman third baseman Robert Wallace, but a strikeout ended the threat.  The walk was Lascomb's second of the day which gave him ten straight plate appearances spanning back to the first game of the season where he reached base successfully (6-for-6, four walks) before being retired in his next at bat.
 
Both offenses were held in check until the top of the sixth when Hardy (1-for-2, HR, 2 BBs, 2 runs) led off with a walk followed by a single off the bat of junior catcher Patrick Boulware (1-for-4, R).  Following back-to-back pop outs and a wild pitch that advanced both runners, Wallace (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) delivered a clutch two-run single to pull the Mighty Macs closer at 6-3.
 
After the first two hitters of the bottom of the sixth reached, Caria was replaced by Campione, who escaped the jam unscathed and kept the deficit at 6-3.
The Mighty Macs threatened again in the eighth after another lead-off walk from Hardy and a one-out single from junior shortstop Joe DiGiaimo, but Lascomb hit into an inning-ending double play to halt the momentum.
 
Down to their last chance in the top of the ninth, the Mighty Macs continued to apply pressure.  A one-out single by Vottero (2-for-4) followed by a walk from junior center fielder Joe Karbowsky brought the tying run to the plate, but Kobylinski (1-for-5) went down on strikes and sophomore right fielder Matthew Lawson grounded out to end the game.
 
Immaculata will look to finish the road trip on a high note as they travel to Guilford tomorrow for a 2:30 p.m. matchup.