Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FORT PIERCE, Fla.- The Immaculata baseball team was looking to build off of the momentum of a season-opening doubleheader sweep over Susquehanna when they took on Elizabethtown on Monday afternoon, but the Mighty Macs (2-2) let leads get away from them in the late innings in both games and fell 8-4 and 9-8 to the Blue Jays (3-1).

In the opener, the Macs got a great effort from junior Mike Campisano who went five innings, giving up one earned run while striking out three, but IU gave up five runs over the final two innings as they tried to protect a one run lead. Offensively, junior centerfielder Rick DiDomenico (SB, RBI), senior first baseman Mike Lascomb (RBI) and junior shortstop Ryan Ficca (2 RBIs, SB, 2B) had two hits each to lead the attack.

Campisano surrendered two unearned runs in the top of the first, but IU quickly got one back in the bottom half of their inning. Sophomore second baseman Jason McCormick (1-for-1, 2 R, 3 HBPs, 2 SB) was hit by a pitch and stole second before DiDomenico got a bunt single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. DiDomenico stole second and one out later, sophomore right fielder Howie Kalamets was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lascomb (1-for-4, RBI) then singled off the pitcher's glove which scored McCormick and the Macs were threatening for more when freshman designated hitter Connor Kerns (1-for-3) grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Campisano worked around a two-out walk in the second and the IU offense got back to work to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Junior catcher Dom Ficca reached on an error and moved to second on a bunt single by freshman leftfielder Coleman Richards (1-for-1, R, HBP). Ficca was caught trying to steal third, but a single by freshman third baseman Brad Misialek (1-for-3, R, SB) put runners on the corners with one out. McCormick was hit by a pitch and after a strikeout, Ryan Ficca delivered a two-run double to give IU a 3-2 lead.

Elizabethtown tied the game in the top of the third on a squeeze play and the score would remain 3-3 until the bottom of the fourth. In that inning, IU got an RBI single off the bat of DiDomenico which scored McCormick who reached after getting hit by a pitch for a third time, to give them a 4-3 lead.

Campisano worked around a pair of singles in the fifth and turned the game over to the bullpen in the sixth with a one run lead.

In the top of the sixth, sophomore Chris Goggin (0-1) came into the game and the Blue Jays had two hitters reach by hit batsmen with one out, a single brought home the tying run. Elizabethtown added three more runs on an error, sacrifice fly, and double to go up 7-4.

In the seventh, sophomore Kyle Bacher surrendered one run, and IU was unable to get any comeback generated and fell in the first game, 8-4.

In the second game, the Macs had a 6-1 lead going to the bottom of the fourth, but Elizabethtown scored eight runs over the next three innings to take a 9-6 lead. IU threatened in their half of the seventh, but came up just short in a 9-8 defeat.

Freshman pitcher Tyler Sassaman (0-1) gave up seven runs over 4 1/3 innings of work in the first start of his career. Offensively, seven different players had hits for the Macs, but it wasn't enough in the one-run defeat.

IU got the scoring started in the top of the second when Kalamets (0-for-3, R) reached on an error and moved to second on a single by Ryan Ficca (1-for-2, SB, HBP, BB). Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore catcher Ryan Tecco (0-for-4, RBI), and with one out, senior designated hitter Matt Lawson (1-for-4, R, 2 RBIs) delivered a two-run single before getting thrown out at second trying to advance on the throw. Freshman Pat Devenney (1-for-2, R, 2B) restarted the rally with a double and McCormick (1-for-3, R, RBI, HBP, SB) hit one of his own to stake the Macs to a 3-0.

Sassaman would give up one in the bottom of the third before the IU offense went to work again in the fourth, scoring three runs on one hit.

Lawson reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Devenney. McCormick was then hit by a pitch to put two runners on when DiDomenico (R, HBP, 2 BBs) reached on a bunt single and came around to third on a throwing error by the pitcher that scored Lawson and McCormick. Junior third baseman Rob Wallace (1-for-2, R, RBI, SB, 2B) hit a sacrifice fly to extend the Macs' advantage to 6-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, two run-scoring doubles by the Blue Jays chopped the lead back down to 6-3 through four innings of play. After going down in order in the top of the fifth, Immaculata surrendered four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Elizabethtown loaded the bases with one out and got a run-scoring single and walk to make it 6-5 which ended Sassaman's day. Freshman Collin Stringham made his collegiate debut on the mound and the Blue Jays greeted him with a two-run single to take the lead, 7-6.

Elizabethtown added two more in the sixth off Stringham to make it 9-6, but IU had one last rally in them.

In the top of the seventh, DiDomenico walked to start the inning, but was forced on a fielder's choice by Wallace. Lascomb (1-for-4, R) singled before junior transfer Chuck Wyckoff singled to load the bases with one out. Ryan Ficca walked to force one run in and Tecco hit into a fielder's choice to make it 9-8 with runners on the corners and two outs. Lawson stepped to the plate looking to tie the game, but grounded out to second to end the game.

The Macs will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they play Lebanon Valley in a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m.