SCRANTON, Pa. - The Immaculata University baseball scored seven runs in the first four innings to take an early five-run lead Wednesday at Marywood, but seven unanswered Pacer runs from the fifth inning on ultimately handed the Macs their fourth-straight loss, 9-7.

First baseman Justin Dempsey had a three-hit day for the Macs - including a double and a solo home run - and drove in three runs to pace the offense.

Starting pitcher Eddie Decker limited the Pacers to three runs on five hits over five innings to put himself in line for the victory, but ultimately had to settle for a no decision.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The IU offense was quick to get on the board for the second-straight day, striking for two runs in the opening frame. Tyler Kmiec led off with a single to center and immediately came around to score on Dempsey's two-bagger to right center for the game's first run. Following a Brad Misialek infield hit, Cameron Delisle brought in Dempsey with an RBI groundout.
-The Pacers answered right back with a pair of runs in the home half to even the game at two. A one-out single and a pair of wild pitches was followed by a run-scoring single up the middle, before two more wild pitches allowed the second run to come across.
-The Macs punched right back with three in the top of the second to regain the lead. Stephen Trendler drew a leadoff walk and stole second before advancing to third on a Connor Blesi double. Pat Devenney scored Trendler on a ground out, and Kmiec brought in Blesi on a sacrifice fly to center.
-With the bases empty and two outs, Dempsey lifted his second home run of the season to left, extending the lead to 5-2.
-Eddie Decker began to settle in on the mound following a shaky first inning, holding Marywood scoreless in the second, third and fourth innings while retiring nine of the twelve batters he faced over that span to protect the IU lead.
-The Macs tacked on single runs in the third and fourth to extend the lead to 7-2 through four innings, as Richard Fontanillas led off the third with a single and came around to score on an error before Dempsey drove in his third run of the day with an RBI groundout.
-Despite allowing a run in the bottom of the fifth - the final inning of his outing - Decker departed with a four-run lead and in line for his third win of the season.
-The Marywood bats came to life against the Mighty Macs bullpen, striking for three runs in both the sixth and eighth innings to take a two-run lead. The Pacers took their first lead of the game on a one-out, RBI double off the bat of Mitch Clemons in the bottom of the eighth.
-IU recorded only two hits from the fifth inning on.

IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Dempsey: 3-5, HR (2), 2B, 3 RBI
-Kmiec: 3-4, 2B, RBI, 2R
-Misialek: 2-5

IU LEADERS ON THE BUMP
-Decker: ND, 5 IP, 5H, 3R, 4K

UP NEXT
Immaculata (8-16, 3-5 CSAC) has an off weekend before returning to action Tuesday at home against Neumann.