Box Score

FORT PIERCE, Fla.- After pounding out 16 hits and 16 runs in their 2017 season opener on Sunday afternoon, the Immaculata (1-1) offense struggled to get going, as they had just six hits and fell 2-1 to Penn State-Behrend (1-2) in a pitcher's duel.  The Mighty Macs got an outstanding eight inning effort from junior Trevor O'Brien, but an eighth inning run by the Nittany Lions was the difference in the one run ball game.
 
O'Brien was in control all game as he went eight innings, allowed four hits, two runs, one earned, and struck out three while allowing just four hits.  The outing was the longest of his IU career, besting the 7 1/3 inning outing he had in last year's postseason opener.
 
For the Macs, freshman Tyler Kmiec had his second consecutive multi-hit effort with a pair of singles, and a stolen base to lead the IU offense.  Senior centerfielder Jason McCormick (R, HBP), senior shortstop Ryan Ficca, junior third baseman Justin Dempsey, and senior right fielder Dom Ficca each tallied hits as well for the Macs.
 
O'Brien worked around a few base runners in the first to send the Macs to the plate in a scoreless game, and they took advantage with their only run of the day.  McCormick was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a double to left field by Ryan Ficca.  Following a groundout that didn't advance either runner, Dempsey delivered an RBI groundout to second base to score McCormick and put the Macs in front 1-0.
 
O'Brien settled in nicely for the next few innings as he got a double play ball to end a second inning threat and retired the side in order in the third and fourth.  Offensively, the Macs had two singles in the second, but were unable to produce more than one baserunner in a rally until the eighth.
 
After PSU-Behrend tied the game with a run on an RBI fielder's choice in the top of the fifth, the Macs got a one-out single by McCormick, but he was doubled off first on a line drive by Ryan Ficca to end the threat.
 
O'Brien worked around hit batters in both the sixth and seventh, but the Nittany Lions continued to keep the Macs offense quiet as well.  Kmiec hit a one out single and stole second in the bottom of the seventh, but back-to-back pop outs kept the game locked 1-1 heading to the eighth.
 
With one out, a batter reached on a walk, and stole second, but following a fly out, he advanced to third on a wild pitch with two outs.  PSU-Behrend would take the one-run lead on the next hitter as he hit a groundball that Ryan Ficca could not handle at short which allowed the go-ahead run to score.
 
The Macs mounted their best rally since the first inning in the bottom of the eighth as senior first baseman Ryan Tecco walked with one out, and freshman pinch runner Vinny Carlesi swiped second to put the tying run in scoring position.  Dempsey then reached on an error by the first baseman to put runners on the corners, but Simon flew out to shallow right field and Dom Ficca struck out to end the inning.
 
Senior Kyle Bacher came on to pitch a perfect ninth inning in relief, but the Macs were retired in order in the ninth for their first loss of the season.
 
The Macs will be back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader against Lebanon Valley.