Box Score

SCRANTON, Pa.- The Mighty Macs opened their final Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) series of the season on Friday afternoon at Marywood (19-8, 11-5 CSAC) and the two teams were locked in a pitcher's duel all afternoon, but a two-run sixth inning by the Pacers was the difference as they edged Immaculata, 3-2.  Despite the loss, the Macs (16-13, 10-6 CSAC) clinched a CSAC playoff berth for the second consecutive year as Gwynedd Mercy lost at Keystone.
 
Junior Dan Whalen (3-3) had his longest outing and first complete game of the season as he went all eight innings, gave up two earned runs and eight hits, while striking out four.
 
The Mighty Macs had just five hits on the afternoon against Joe DiLoreto and Russell Baldino, with two of them coming from junior shortstop Ryan Ficca (2-for-4, 2B).
 
After two scoreless innings, Immaculata got on the board first in the top of the third inning.  Ficca led off with a double down the right field line and he was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman second baseman Pat Devenney.  Sophomore right fielder Howie Kalamets (0-for-3, R) then grounded one to shortstop and Ficca got caught up between third and home for the second out of the inning.  Sophomore left fielder Jason McCormick (1-for-2, 3B, RBI, 2 BBs) then stepped up and delivered an RBI triple to right center for the 1-0 IU lead.
 
The Pacers struck back in their half of the third as they took advantage of an IU error.  Whalen was nearly out of trouble after getting a strikeout with two runners in scoring position, but an Immaculata error brought home the tying run with two outs.
 
After a scoreless fourth, the Mighty Macs had another chance in the top of the fifth as Ficca singled to right center, moved to second on an error by the center fielder, and then along to third on a passed ball.  Devenney then hit a groundball to the shortstop and Ficca was again cut down at the plate to keep the score tied.
 
Immaculata did break through in the sixth as junior third baseman Rob Wallace (1-for-3, BB, R) reached on a one out walk and moved all the way to third base on a pair of wild pitches.  Following a wild pitch, sophomore pinch hitter Matt Simon (1-for-2, RBI) singled to left center to score Wallace and put the Macs back in front, 2-1.
 
However, just as they did in the fourth, Marywood fought back and got a big two-run single from Nick Arrue to give the Pacers a 3-2 lead through six innings of play.  Whalen worked around a single in the seventh and eighth to finish out his day.
 
The Mighty Macs were retired in order in both the seventh and eighth innings, and in the ninth, Ficca reached on an error, but junior pinch hitter Chuck Wyckoff flew out to end the game as the Pacers took the opener.
 
Immaculata will host Marywood in a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon, beginning at noon and prior to the first game, the baseball program will honor seniors Matt Dolan and Matt Lawson in a pregame ceremony.  With a sweep, the Mighty Macs will host at least one playoff game in next week's CSAC Championships.