Box Score

READING, Pa.- The Immaculata baseball team (17-4) nearly pulled off a program first as they were just one out from the first no-hitter in team history, but a Crusader (23-7-2) single up the middle ended the no-hit bid in the ninth and the Mighty Macs had to hold on for a big 3-2 road win against No. 12/15 Alvernia.
 
The Mighty Macs have now won 15 of their past 16 games.
 
Junior Eddie Decker (1 2/3 IP), senior Adam Wheatley (5 1/3 IP), sophomore Zach Smiley (1 IP), and senior Kyle Bacher (1 IP) nearly pulled off the feat, but a late rally by Alvernia ended the no-hit bit.  Bacher was able to close out the game in the ninth for his eighth save of the season, which set a new program record.
 
IU had seven hits on the day, including two apiece from senior designated hitter Howie Kalamets (RBI, 2B) and junior third baseman Brad Misialek (2 R, SB).  The Macs made two runs in the third and one in the fifth stand up for the road triumph.
 
The Macs got their lead-off runner on in the first two innings with a single by senior centerfielder Jason McCormick (1-for-2, R, RBI, HBP) in the first and a hit batter by junior catcher Justin Dempsey (1-for-3, HBP, SB) in the second, but IU was unable to convert.
 
On the other side, Decker cruised through a 1-2-3 inning, and got two outs around a walk before giving way to Wheatley who ended the second inning with a groundout.
 
IU got on the board in the third with a pair of runs.  Misialek singled to shortstop and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Pat Devenney.  McCormick was then hit by a pitch, and both moved up on a wild pitch.  A single through the right side scored Misialek, and an error allowed McCormick to increase the lead to 2-0.
 
Wheatley worked around single walks in the third and fourth to preserve the lead, and IU added to their lead in the fifth.  Misialek singled to center and again moved to second on a bunt by Devenney.  Misialek then stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by McCormick.
 
Wheatley continued to work effectively despite baserunners in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, but they all came by walk or hit batter to keep Alvernia hitless and scoreless through seven innings.
 
He walked the lead-off hitter in the eighth before giving way to Smiley who walked the first hitter he faced, but retired the next three in order.
 
Bacher then came on in the ninth with the no-hitter intact and a 3-0 lead.  He retired the first two hitters in order before allowing a two-out, two-strike single to centerfield.  The Crusaders scored a couple runs and brought the tying run to third base before a fly out closed it out.
 
The Macs will now return home to face Ursinus at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.