GARNET VALLEY, Pa. - The Immaculata University baseball team began its 2018 season Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader against Widener, but fell in a pair of one-run games that came down to the final at-bat. The Macs (0-2) fell behind early in game one to the Pride (2-1), but battled back to tie the game with three runs in the final inning - sparked by a two-run home run off the bat of Stephen Trendler - before falling on a walk-off double, 4-3.

Billy Manzo turned in four quality innings of one-run ball to lift the Macs in game two, but IU mustered only two hits in the effort and ultimately fell in extra innings, 3-2.

GAME 1
Immaculata 3, Widener 4
WP: Sean Maniatis (1-0)
LP: Zach Smiley (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Widener manufactured the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. After the leadoff hitter was moved to second on a groundout, a DeBellis single to center set up first and third with one out. DeBillis then broke for second on a steal attempt, allowing D'Alessandro to scamper home with the game's first run.
-After the Macs stranded a runner in scoring position in the top of the second, Widener extended its lead to two when Seymour lined a one-out triple to center and was driven in by the next batter Taylor on a sacrifice fly to right.
-The Macs looked to get on the board in the top of the fourth when Justin Dempsey led off the frame with a double to left, but IU stranded him at third as the deficit remained at two.
-The Pride tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff walk came around to score on a single to center, making it a three-run game.
-Ryan Blough took the mound for the Macs in the bottom of the fifth, stranding a runner at third in his first inning of work followed by a perfect, one-two-three sixth inning.
-Down to its final three outs, the IU offense came alive in the top of the seventh when Connor Blesi was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, followed by a two-run home run to left off the bat of Stephen Trendler to get the Macs within one.
-Following a Widener pitching change, Tom Prato lined a single to left and later came around to score on Chris Szekeres' RBI groundout to second, tying the game at three.
-However in the bottom of the seventh, Taylor led off the frame with a single and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. With two outs in the inning, DeBellis delivered a walk-off double to right to lift Widener to a 4-3 win.

GAME 2
Widener 3, Immaculata 2 (Final/9)
WP: Alex Zilli (1-0)
LP: Zach Smiley (0-2)
SV: Joey Zettlemoyer (1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Widener was first on the board in game two, tacking on a single run in the top of the first when a leadoff walk came around to score on DeBeillis' one-out triple to left.
-Starting pitcher Billy Manzo settled in to toss a scoreless second, and the offense was there to pick him up in the bottom half of the frame. Richard Fontanillas entered as a pinch hitter and drew a walk, which was followed by Greyson Avots' first-career hit as a Mac - a triple to right to score Fontanillas - as IU drew even with Widener at one. Zach Van Meter then delivered the go-ahead run with a groundout to third to score Avots as the Macs took their first lead of the season, 2-1.
-Manzo ran into trouble in the top of the third, allowing a pair of walks and stolen bases to set up second and third for Widener with one away. After issuing an intentional walk to load the bases, Manzo struck out Dowdy on four pitches before coaxing an inning-ending flyout to center to strand all three runners. Manzo would go on to toss a perfect fourth inning to end his start on the mound with five straight batters retired before handing the ball over to freshman Gabe Hollenbach out of the bullpen for his collegiate debut.
-After Hollenbach tossed a scoreless fifth, Widener threatened to even the game at two when the leadoff man reached on an error and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Guarino then delivered a base knock to set up second and third with one out, but Widener opted to run a squeeze play that the Macs defended perfectly to cut down the potential tying run at the plate. On the very next pitch, the Pride attempted a double steal but Pat Devenney cut off the throw down to second and fired home to get the runner at the plate as the Macs escaped the jam and held on to the lead.
-The Macs could not add any insurance runs in the fifth or sixth, and turned to Hollenbach to hang on to the one-run lead entering the seventh. The freshman induced a groundout to start the frame, but a D'Alessandro double followed, forcing head coach Kevin Schneider to go to the bullpen for the final two outs. After the change on the mound, Mollenhauer doubled to left to score D'Alessandro from second, tying the game at two.
-An intentional walk and a wild pitch set up second and third for Widener, but Zach Smiley was able to escape the jam by inducing a pop out and groundout to end the inning. Immaculata was not able to push across a run in the bottom half of the frame, sending the game to extra innings.
-The two sides traded zeros in the eighth, but an infield hit and an error in the top of the ninth set up second and third with one out for Widener. Following an IU pitching change, Morrissette lifted a sac fly to center to bring in the go-ahead run.
-The Macs were able to get the tying run in scoring position after a Stephen Trendler infield single, but could not bring him around as IU fell in extras, 3-2.

UP NEXT
Immaculata (0-2) returns to action Wednesday at Stevenson in non-conference action. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.