BOX SCORE

IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata baseball team got an outstanding effort on the mound from freshman John Ryan and put together a consistent offensive output on their way to a 7-2 victory over Eastern (14-13) in a non-conference game on Tuesday afternoon.  In his second career start, Ryan went eight innings surrendering just one run on three hits while striking out six, all looking.  Offensively, the Mighty Macs (12-15, 4-9 CSAC) had nine hits and took ten walks as they took advantage of all the baserunners.  Junior third baseman Greg Binfield led the way with three singles.
 
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second, the Mighty Macs scored two to take the early lead.  Senior left fielder T.J. Warner (0-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB) walked with one out and moved to second on a single by Binfield (3-FOR-3, 2 R).  With the runners in motion, freshman catcher Rick DiDomenico (2-for-4, R, RBI) delivered an RBI single through the left side to tie the game at 1-1.  Following a throwing error by the catcher that moved both runners into scoring position, junior center fielder Billy Gaines (0-for-2, R, 2 RBIs) gave the Mighty Macs a 2-1 lead with an RBI groundout to shortstop.
 
In the fourth, the bottom of the order again produced a big inning for the Mighty Macs.  Warner reached on an error to start the inning and moved to second on a single by Binfield.  DiDomenico then laid down a perfect bunt single and the throw from the pitcher got away from first base and allowed Warner to score and the other two runners to advance into scoring position with nobody out.  Gaines then hit a sinking line drive to center field that was caught, but Binfield was able to tag and score to make it 4-1.  The lead swelled to 5-1 when sophomore right fielder Matthew Lawson (2-for-4, RBI, SB) hit an RBI single to right field.
 
Ryan had set down the Eagles quickly in the third and fourth, but ran into trouble in the fifth when Eastern loaded the bases with two outs.  However, the freshman buckled down and got a fielder's choice to end the inning with Immaculata still in front 5-1.
 
The bottom of the order got another run-scoring rally started in the bottom of the sixth when Gaines led off with a walk and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior second baseman Elijah Vottero (0-for-1, 3 BB, SB, RBI) to make it 6-1 through six innings.
 
Ryan continued to cruise through the seventh as he had retired seven straight after getting out of the bases loaded jam in the fifth.
 
In the seventh, junior shortstop Joe DiGiaimo (1-for-4, R, SB) led off with a single down the right field line and stole second base.  He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Binfield and scored on a wild pitch two batters later as the Mighty Macs gave Ryan a 7-1 lead to work with through seven innings.
 
Ryan (2-1) finished off his day with two strikeouts looking as he put together his best collegiate start.
 
Senior pitcher Andrew Dietrich came on to finish off the game giving up one run in the ninth.
 
Immaculata will go back into CSAC play tomorrow when they travel to Marywood for a 3 p.m. start.