Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LA PLUME, Pa.- The Immaculata baseball team travelled to Keystone College (28-12, 17-4 CSAC) on Saturday afternoon to close out the 2017 regular season with a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) doubleheader, and the Macs were in need of a sweep to grab the top seed in the CSAC Tournament, but they dropped the opener 6-2 before bouncing back with a 9-5 victory in the nightcap to earn a split.  The Mighty Macs capped their outstanding regular season at 23-10 and set a program record with their 16-5 CSAC mark, which earns them the No. 2 seed in the CSAC postseason.
 
The Mighty Macs led throughout in the opener until the Giants broke out with a six-run sixth inning to take the lead for good.  In the second game, it was the Mighty Macs who broke out in the sixth inning as they scored five times to turn a one-run deficit into a four-run lead en route to the victory.
 
Junior Ryan Blough (6-3) threw well in the opener, but ran into trouble in the sixth inning that he could not escape.
 
IU got the scoring started in the second inning when freshman catcher Tyler Kmiec was hit by a pitch with one out and moved into scoring position when senior rightfielder Dom Ficca (2-for-3, RBI, 2B) hit an RBI single through the left side to put the Macs in front.
 
IU had single base runners in the third through sixth innings, with two of them coming on singles by senior designated hitter Howie Kalamets (2-for-4, RBI), but they were unable to produce any rallies.
 
Meanwhile, Blough had escaped two runners on with two outs in the first inning, and otherwise allowed one baserunner in the second through fifth innings, but was able to keep the Giants at bay until the sixth.  IU held a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but the Giants sent 11 hitters to the plate in the inning and took the lead for good.
 
They loaded the bases with one out, and back-to-back two-run base hits made it 4-1 Keystone.  Sophomore reliever Zach Smiley got the final two outs of the inning after freshman Greg Grandelli was unable to record an out.  Blough went 5 1/3 innings and allowed five hits, four runs, and three walks while striking out a pair.
 
IU scored an unearned run in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Kalamets to score junior second baseman Pat Devenney (1-for-3, R), but that was it as the Macs lost 6-2.
 
In the second game, Keystone kept their momentum going as they took a 5-1 lead through four innings with IU's only run coming in the second inning.  Junior Eddie Decker went four innings and struck out three while allowing five runs total, four earned.
 
The Mighty Mac bats started to come alive in the fifth as Devenney (R, 2 BB) walked to lead off the inning, and senior centerfielder Jason McCormick (2-for-4, 2 R, HBP) singled to put two on.  Kalamets (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI) hit an RBI single up the middle, and a walk loaded the bases.  Following a pop out, senior leftfielder Matt Simon (1-for-2, 2 RBI, R, BB) singled to left field and a sacrifice fly by Kmiec (1-for-3, R, RBI) made it 5-4.
 
Sophomore Billy Manzo (1-0) came on in relief in the fifth and did a great job holding it at a one-run deficit with a 1-2-3 inning and the Macs took advantage in the sixth by sending 11 hitters to the plate.
 
With one out, McCormick was hit by a pitch, Kalamets singled, and an error allowed McCormick to score to tie the game.  Junior third baseman Justin Dempsey (1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI) then delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-run triple to center field.  A sacrifice fly by Simon and an RBI single later in the inning made it 9-5.
 
Manzo then closed out the six-inning, rain-shortened game with another 1-2-3 inning.
 
The Mighty Macs will await their opening round opponent as Neumann and Gwynedd Mercy are tied for third place with each of them playing a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.