Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ASTON, Pa.- The Immaculata baseball team (19-5, 12-2 CSAC) travelled to Neumann (16-13, 10-4 CSAC) on Sunday afternoon to open a three-game Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) series with a doubleheader, and the Macs saw a pair of two run leads slip away in a 5-4 extra inning loss in the opener, but they bounced back with an offensive explosion in a 15-3 game two victory to earn a split and move to 12-2 in the CSAC.  Currently, they sit a half game behind Keystone for the top spot in the CSAC and will conclude their series with Neumann on Monday at 3 p.m. at IU.
 
In the first game, senior left fielder Matt Simon had a huge game as he went 4-for-4 with a run scored, a double, and a stolen base as part of a 13-hit parade for the Macs.  IU scored two runs in the fourth, and after Neumann tied it in the sixth, the Macs scored two in the top of the eighth before Neumann walked off with three in the bottom of the eighth.
 
The Macs put the pressure on early with a one-out single in the first, three singles in the second, and two more in the third, but one runner was picked off and a double play kept IU off the scoreboard early.  On the other side, junior Trevor O'Brien got the start and faced the minimum through two innings and worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the third with a strikeout and a pop out to move the game to the fourth tied 0-0.
 
In the top of the fourth, Simon singled to center and moved to second on a groundout.  Senior right fielder Dom Ficca (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI) then brought home the first run of the game with a single to left and moved to second on the throw.  Ficca then came around to score on an RBI single by freshman catcher Tyler Kmiec (1-for-3, RBI, BB) to put IU up 2-0.
 
O'Brien continued to work around some baserunners in the fourth and fifth with a pair of strikeouts in the fourth to escape two lead-off singles, and a flyout and fielder's choice in the fifth to preserve the 2-0 advantage.
 
The Knights finally broke through in the sixth to tie the game on a two-run home run off O'Brien.
 
In the seventh, the Macs loaded the bases on the strength of a double by junior second baseman Pat Devenney (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and two hit batters, but a double play ended the threat with the game still tied at 2-2.  O'Brien had his first 1-2-3 inning since the first in the seventh to send the game to extras.
 
O'Brien went seven innings while allowing five hits and striking out six.
 
In the top of the eighth, the Macs re-took the lead as they loaded the bases with two outs, and Devenney lined a two-run single to right center field to put IU on top 4-2 needing just three outs.  Senior Kyle Bacher came on in relief, looking for his ninth save of the season, but Neumann was able to take advantage of a lead-off error to start a rally.  Neumann brought one run home and had runners on first and second with two outs when a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position.  A walk-off single by their lead-off hitter brought both runs home to deal IU their second loss of the CSAC season, 5-4.
 
The Macs did not let that loss linger long as they scored five runs in each of the first three innings of game two to take a commanding lead.  Senior first baseman Ryan Tecco had a monster day, falling a double short of the cycle with a triple, his first career home run, and a career-high six RBIs to lead a 14-hit attack in game two.
 
Senior designated hitter Howie Kalamets (2 R, RBI, BB), senior shortstop Ryan Ficca (3 R, 2 RBI, 2B), senior left fielder Matt Simon (2 R, 3 RBI, BB, 2 2B), and junior second baseman Pat Devenney (2 R) all had two hits apiece in a bounce back game for IU.
 
Junior Ryan Blough (6-1) got the win on the mound with six solid innings, allowing six hits, and three runs while striking out two.
 
IU wasted no time as senior centerfielder Jason McCormick (1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 2 BB, SB) walked to lead off the game, stole second and moved to third on a single by Kalamets.  Ryan Ficca brought in the first run of the game with a single to left-center, and a sacrifice bunt moved two runners into scoring position.  Following a walk by Simon, Tecco cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line and a 4-0 lead.  Dom Ficca made it 5-0 after one half inning with a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
Blough allowed a run in the first, but the Macs responded with five more in the second.  Devenney led off with a single, moved to second on a walk, and scored after a fielding error by the Knights.  The inning was highlighted by a two-run double to right-center by Simon and a two-run home run by Tecco to right, and the Macs led 10-1.
 
Blough worked around a two-out walk in the second and put the offense back to work.  The Macs had RBI hits by McCormick, Kalamets, Ryan Ficca, Simon, and Tecco in the top of the third to make it 15-1 as IU had blown the game open.
 
From there Blough cruised through his six innings of work, and junior Tyler Sassaman polished off the final inning.
 
The Macs have now set a new program record for CSAC victories in a season and will look to continue that on Monday afternoon when they conclude the series against Neumann at home at 3 p.m.