FORT PIERCE, Fla. - The Immaculata University baseball team concluded its spring break trip in Fort Pierce, Fla. Saturday afternoon, dropping a 9-5 decision to Penn State Behrend. Tristan Ryan and Justin Dempsey had multi-hit days to lead the Macs, but a two-run eighth inning from the Lions ultimately downed IU late.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs were first on the board in Saturday's contest after Tristan Ryan and Justin Dempsey lined back-to-back doubles to plate the game's first run. However, Penn State Behrend would answer right back with two in the bottom half to take the lead.
-After IU starter Gabe Hollenbach stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the second, the Macs evened the game at two thanks to a Richard Fontanillas sac fly to center to score Ryan, who again led off the frame with a two-bagger.
-The Lions were able to break the tie with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, chasing Hollenbach from the game. Eddie Decker came on in relief to limit the damage and stranded a pair of runners.
-The Macs plated an unearned run in the fifth to cut the deficit to two, but Behrend got the run right back in its half of the sixth on a run-scoring single to keep it a three-run game.
-The Macs began to mount their comeback in the top of the seventh when Tyler Kmiec lined a two-out single to right to score Ryan, and after Kmiec swiped second, Stephen Trendler brought him in with a base knock to left center. Trendler would advance up to third with two outs, but the Macs failed to bring him in, leaving the deficit at one.
-The Lions tacked on one in the seventh on a solo home run and two more in the eighth to take a four-run lead as the Macs failed to put together a rally in the late innings, falling 9-5.

IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Ryan: 2-5, 2 2B, 3R
-Dempsey: 2-4, 2B, RBI
-Kmiec: 1-4, RBI, 2R, 2 SB

IU LEADERS ON THE BUMP
-Decker: 4.1 IP, 6H, 4R, 4K

UP NEXT
Immaculata (4-7) returns to action Tuesday on the road at Lebanon Valley College. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.