BOX SCORE

IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata baseball team (11-13, 4-7 CSAC) and Gwynedd-Mercy (16-10, 9-1 CSAC) opened a three-game CSAC series with an expected pitchers' duel between two of the top arms in the CSAC in Immaculata's junior Bryan McHale and the Griffins' Matt Rakus, but Gwynedd-Mercy had a four-run sixth that broke open a close game as the Mighty Macs fell 10-3.  The two teams will play a doubleheader that is scheduled for Saturday at noon at Gwynedd-Mercy.
 
The teams exchanged one run apiece in the third inning. Gwynedd-Mercy scored on a fielder's choice as Josh Martin slid around a tag at the plate.  For Immaculata, senior catcher T.J. Warner (1-for-4, R) led off the inning with a single down the left field line and advanced to second when the left fielder misplayed the ball.  Warner moved to third on a wild pitch before coming home on an RBI groundout by junior left fielder Billy Gaines (0-for-3, RBI) as the Mighty Macs tied the game at 1-1.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Griffins added two more runs to swell their lead to 3-1, but like in the third, the Mighty Macs had an answer.  Junior shortstop Joe DiGiaimo (1-for-3, R, BB) led off the inning with a single down the left field line and advanced to second on a groundout.  With two outs, junior centerfielder Alex Kobylinski hit a ground ball to the left side and the third baseman threw wide of first which allowed DiGiaimo to come around to score and cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
However, Gwynedd-Mercy would tack on four runs in the pivotal top of the sixth to extend their advantage out to 7-2.  The first four hitters reached on singles and came around to score as they chased McHale from the game.
 
McHale (3-2) went six innings and surrendered seven runs (five earned) on nine hits while striking out four and walking two.
 
The Griffins would add another in the seventh off senior pitcher Joseph Caria, and two more off junior pitcher John Pedorenko in the eighth to cap the scoring.  Freshman Nicholas Campione tossed a perfect ninth for the Mighty Macs.
 
Immaculata would tack on a run in the ninth after senior first baseman Matt Hardy (1-for-3, R) led off with a double and came around to score on an RBI groundout off the bat of junior second baseman Elijah Vottero (0-for-2, 2 BB, RBI)
 
Rakus went eight innings for Gwynedd-Mercy while striking out six and surrendering two hits.
 
The two teams will resume their series this Saturday at noon with a doubleheader at Gwynedd-Mercy.