Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa.- In their first home non-conference game of the season, four freshmen pitchers combined to give up just two runs and six hits, and the IU offense put together a consistent effort in an 8-2 victory over Swarthmore, the team's fifth straight overall.
 
Freshman Coleman Richards had a great day with his first career three-hit game, a triple, two stolen bases, one RBI, and two runs scored to lead a consistent IU offense that scored in five of their eight at bats.
 
Freshman Ryan Joyce (2-0) got his third career start and escaped early trouble with a double play to get his day started.
 
In the bottom of the first, sophomore left fielder Jason McCormick (3 HBPs, R) was hit by a pitch, his first of three on the day to tie his own single game record, and was quickly brought home on Richards' first career extra base hit, a triple to left-center field for a 1-0 IU lead.  After a walk by junior right fielder Chuck Wyckoff (3 BBs, R), sophomore catcher Dom Ficca (1-for-1, R, RBI, BB) brought home Richards with a sacrifice fly to stake IU to a 2-0 lead through the first inning.
 
After a scoreless second, Joyce surrendered a lead-off walk in the top of the third, but got another double play ball to escape trouble.  In the Macs' half of the third, Wyckoff got things started with his second walk of the day before Dom Ficca lined a single to left field that got away from the left fielder and allowed Wyckoff to come around to score with Ficca advancing to third.  After two strikeouts, sophomore first baseman Matt Simon (2-for-4, 2 RBIs, R) delivered the first hit and RBI of his career with a line drive to left field to grow the IU lead to 4-0.
 
Joyce continued the best start of his early career with a scoreless fourth before surrendering one run in the fifth to close out his day.  He went five innings, gave up four hits and one run while striking out one for the second win of his career.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Simon delivered his second two-out RBI single of the game to third base to get the run back and move the lead back to four runs at 5-1.
 
Freshman Tyler Sassaman continued the strong pitching from the Macs with two shutout innings of relief, and IU put the game away with a three-run, two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh.  Sophomore catcher Austin Stern was hit by a pitch and after Simon reached on an error, there were two men on with two outs.  Freshman second baseman Pat Devenney (2-for-4, R, RBI, 2B, SB) then delivered a line drive double down the right field line to score Stern, and freshman shortstop Brad Misialek (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) followed him with a two-run single to left field as IU held an 8-1 lead through seven innings.
 
Freshman Eddie Decker surrendered one run in the eighth, but an RBI groundout by Stern scored Richards to get the run back and take the game to the final inning with IU on top, 9-2.
 
Freshman Collin Stringham tossed a scoreless frame to finish off the victory and an impressive showing from the freshmen arms to carry the Macs to their fifth straight win overall.
 
Immaculata will look to extend their CSAC winning streak, which stands at six, on Friday afternoon when they host Centenary at 3 p.m. at home.
 
NOTES: The Macs have now scored 56 runs over their past five games on 63 hits.