Box Score

ASTON, Pa.- The Immaculata baseball team ended a two-week lay off by travelling to Neumann (4-7, 1-0 CSAC) for their CSAC opener on Saturday afternoon, and the Mighty Macs surrendered seven runs in the first two innings and were unable to recover en route to an 11-4 defeat.  Sophomore center fielder Rick DiDomenico (2-for-5, 2 R, RBI, HR, SB) hit the first home run of his Immaculata career and scored two runs to lead the IU offense.
 
Sophomore right fielder Rob Wallace also added two of Immaculata's nine hits on the day, along with a run scored.
 
Immaculata tried to claw back, but they were unable to put together a big inning as they scored single runs in the first, third, sixth, and eighth innings.
 
Sophomore pitcher Mike Campisano (0-2) was staked to an early 1-0 lead after the top of the first as DiDomenico reached on an infield single before coming around on an RBI double to left field by senior shortstop Joe DiGiaimo (1-for-2, 2B, RBI, BB, HBP).  That would be the only lead the Mighty Macs would hold all day as Neumann responded with four unearned runs in the bottom of the first.
 
A throwing error helped open up a big inning for the Knights as they batted around and scored four runs on four hits and a walk.
 
IU went down in order in the second before the Knights added three more and chased Campisano from the game.  Back-to-back walks and a wild pitch, followed by a two-run single off the bat of Buddy Elgin made it 6-1 and ended Campisno's day.  He went one inning and gave up three earned runs, seven total.
 
Sophomore John Ryan came on in relief and allowed Elgin to score before escaping further trouble as Immaculata trailed 7-1 through two innings.
 
DiDomenico got one of the runs back in the third inning on his first career home run, a solo shot to left field to make it 7-2.
 
Ryan held up his end of the bargain from the bullpen, holding Neumann scoreless in the third and fourth innings, including an inning ending double play in the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Knights answered with a home run of their own to make it a six run game again at 8-2 through five innings.
 
Freshman left fielder Howie Kalamets (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) stroked a two-out RBI double down the left field line to score Wallace in the sixth to again put the lead back at five runs, 8-3.
 
It would stay that way until the top of the eighth when Immaculata tried to mount a comeback.  Senior third baseman Eli Vottero (1-for-4, RBI) hit a two-out RBI single to score senior catcher Patrick Boulware (1-for-4, R, SB) and make it 8-4, but much like the rest of the day, the Mighty Macs couldn't string together a long rally.
 
Neumann would put the game away in the bottom of the eighth with three more runs to get to the final of 11-4.
 
Ryan threw well in relief allowing four runs over 6 2/3 innings of work.
 
The Mighty Macs will get another crack at Neumann with a doubleheader tomorrow at noon at Immaculata.