Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Mighty Macs closed out their regular season Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) schedule in style on Saturday afternoon as they swept Gwynedd Mercy (18-17, 9-6 CSAC) by scores of 5-4 in 10 innings and 5-1 in the nightcap to clinch their third consecutive CSAC playoff berth.  They currently sit at 21-17 overall and 11-7 in the CSAC before they enjoy their bye next weekend as conference play wraps up elsewhere.  The 21 wins equals the 2014 program record for victories and the 11 CSAC wins equals a program-high which had been done three previous times in 2011, 2014, and 2015.
 
Immaculata is in third place in the CSAC and will await their seeding based on next weekend's results when Keystone (12-3) plays Neumann (11-4), and Gwynedd Mercy (9-6) plays Centenary (7-8).
 
The Macs won the two games in very different fashion as they used a three-run walk-off home run by Howie Kalamets in the bottom of the 10^th inning of the first game to come back from a two-run deficit, and in game two, junior Ryan Blough was outstanding on the mound tossing the second complete game of his career and allowing just one unearned run.
 
In the opener, the Macs were in command  most of the game with a 2-0 lead behind a strong effort by senior Dan Whalen, but the Griffins would tie it in the top of the sixth with two runs of their own.  The score would hold at 2-2 until the top of the tenth when Gwynedd Mercy scored a run against both sophomore Ryan Joyce and senior Nick Campione (3-2) to take a 4-2 lead into the Macs' final at bat.
 
Junior catcher Ryan Tecco (1-for-4, RBI) led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a single by junior pinch hitter Dom Ficca to put two on with nobody out.  Following a batter's interference call for the first out, Kalamets (2-for-5, 2 R, HR, 3 RBIs, SB) stepped to the plate and crushed his third home run of the year and second walk-off homer of the season down the left field line to give the Mighty Macs the thrilling 5-4 victory.
 
The Macs took their 2-0 lead with a single run in the first two innings.  Junior left fielder Jason McCormick (1-for-3, 2 BBS, 3B, R) led off the first with a triple and would score on an RBI groundout by Tecco to put the Macs in front 1-0.
 
In the second, Kalamets singled to start the inning, moved to second on a ground out, and stole third before sophomore second baseman Brad Misialek (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) brought him home with a groundout.
 
Whalen was throwing great through the first five innings as he collected seven of his 10 punchouts on the day.  His fourth strikeout of the game in the second inning gave Whalen the new program record for strikeouts in a career as he ended the game with 183.
 
The Griffins finally got to Whalen in the sixth with a pair of RBI singles to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Whalen would go eight innings giving up eight hits, two runs, and two walks.
 
The Macs had their best chance to end the game in the ninth inning as they loaded the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended it to go to the 10^th.
 
In the second game, Blough (3-5) was dominant throughout as he went seven innings, allowed six hits, one unearned run, and one walk while striking out seven.
 
On offense, McCormick (2 R, RBI, 2B), senior first baseman Mike Lascomb (2 R, BB, SB), and junior designated hitter Matt Simon all had two hits to pace the Mighty Mac attack. 
 
Gwynedd got on the board in the top of the first with an unearned run on a two-out single, but that would be the only blemish on Blough's otherwise great start.
 
The Mighty Mac offense finally got going in the third and took a lead they would never relinquish.  McCormick singled and moved to second on a walk by Lascomb.  Tecco (1-for-3, RBI, BB) laced a single to right field to bring home McCormick to tie the game and move Lascomb to third.  With Simon at the plate in the next at bat, the catcher attempted to pick off Lascomb and the throw got away allowing him to score and put the Macs in front 2-1.
 
With Blough in cruise control, not allowing a base runner in the third, fourth, or fifth innings, retiring 12 in a row at one point, the Mighty Mac offense was able to put the game away with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth.
 
In the fifth, the Macs loaded the bases and senior shortstop Ryan Ficca walked to bring home a run and extend the lead to 3-1.
 
In the sixth, sophomore third baseman Justin Dempsey reached on an error before the next two hitters got out to put a runner on second with two down.  McCormick added a key insurance run with an RBI double down the left field line and came around to score on an infield single by Lascomb that the pitcher threw away.
 
Blough allowed two singles in the seventh, but ended the game on a 5-4-3 double play and the Macs clinched their third straight CSAC playoff berth.
 
Today also marked Senior Day for the Mighty Macs as they honored eight members of the program who combined for 27 season played, 76 wins, and 40 CSAC victories.  Campione, Mike Campisano, Rick DiDomenico, Ryan Ficca, Lascomb, Rob Wallace, Whalen, and Chuck Wyckoff were all recognized in a pre-game ceremony.
 
The Mighty Macs currently have no regular season games remaining on their schedule and will begin preparing for the CSAC postseason in two weeks.