IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata University softball team benefitted from strong outings out of pitchers Emma Bischoff and Michaela Petito Friday afternoon, but late home runs from visiting Gwynedd Mercy (19-4, 11-1 CSAC) ultimately downed the Macs in both ends of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) doubleheader, 1-0 and 7-6.

Abby Carter had a four-hit performance in Friday's nightcap and scored three runs. Annemarie Bartow had a pair of hits and RBIs in the 7-6 loss.

GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Friday's game one was a pitcher's duel through and through, as both sides were held scoreless through the first six innings.
-Emma Bischoff was dominant in the circle for the Macs, allowing only one hit in the first six shutout innings of her outing while racking up eight strikeouts in her complete-game effort.
-Gwynedd Mercy's Melissa Hess was just as elusive against the IU lineup, but the Macs looked to break through in the bottom of the third. With two outs in the frame, Ashley Rey singled to center and moved up to third following an Annemarie Bartow double into the right field corner. However, the Macs stranded the pair in scoring position as the two sides headed for the middle innings knotted at zero.
-The Griffins' Amanda Clark led off the top of the seventh with a home run to center, standing as the difference in the contest as Gwynedd held on for the 1-0 win.

IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
Carter: 2-4
Bartow: 1-3, 2B

IU LEADERS IN THE CIRCLE
Bischoff: 7 IP, 2H, 1R, 8K

GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs jumped out to their first lead of the day in the bottom of inning number one, as Abby Carter lined a one-out single to right and immediately stole second to get into scoring position. After a ground out advanced Carter to third, Bartow brought the speedy second baseman home with a hard ground ball to the right side.
-Leighann Brocious padded the IU lead with an RBI single back through the middle in the bottom of the second, and after Gwynedd got on the board in the top of the third, Bartow made sure to even that frame with a run-scoring double in the bottom half as the Macs took a 3-1 lead.
-The Griffins drew within a run on Tori Sherwood's RBI double to right-center, and then tied the score at three in the fifth on a run-scoring base hit.
-Kayla Sponsel got the lead right back for IU in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Bartow with a hard ground ball to the left side. But just like in game one, Clark lifted a long home run to left to draw the Griffins even with the Macs at four in the sixth.
-IU was right there to battle back in the home half of the sixth, as Emily Mesey lined a one-out double off the wall in left before moving up to third on Carter's fourth hit of the game. Carter then broke for second and the catcher's throw down skipped into center field, allowing Mesey to come across with the go-ahead run. Bartow then tacked on an insurance run by reaching on a fielder's choice to score Carter.
-The Griffins would not go down easily, as two batters reached to set up a two-out, three-run home run off the bat of Jess Behr, proving to be the difference in the game as the Macs fell 7-6.

IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
Carter: 4-4, 3R, 3 SB
Bartow: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Mesey: 1-4, 2B, R

IU LEADERS IN THE CIRCLE
Petito: 5 IP, 7H, 3R, 6K

UP NEXT
Immaculata (17-13, 10-4 CSAC) travels to Cabrini tomorrow for a CSAC doubleheader set to begin at noon.