IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata baseball team (8-17, 3-6 CSAC) was locked in a tight one with visiting Neumann (16-17, 7-2 CSAC) on Tuesday afternoon at the IU Baseball Field, and the Macs brought the go-ahead run to second base with one out in the ninth, but were unable to get the big hit to take the lead and fell, 2-1.
 
The Macs had nine hits on the day, two each by sophomore Tyler Kmiec and senior Pat Devenney, but they stranded 12 runners total.
 
Junior Billy Manzo (2-3) was fantastic over eight innings with 10 strikeouts in a losing effort.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Manzo was fantastic early, allowing only a first inning single while retiring the other nine hitters
-The Mighty Macs put a runner on base every inning throughout the day, putting a runner at third with two outs in the second and with two outs in the third, but were unable to cash in
-In the fifth, Neumann scored two runs with just one hit as a pair of Mighty Mac errors, two wild pitches, and one passed ball combined to put the Knights in front
-The Macs loaded the bases in the fifth with two outs, but couldn't cash in.  They finally broke through in the seventh as sophomore Tristan Ryan tripled to right field and scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit in half
-IU put runners on the corners with two outs in the eighth, but ran themselves out of an inning as they attempted a double steal that was cut down at the plate
-In the ninth, Devenney singled up the middle and pinch runner Kyle Hannon moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Kmiec then lofted one to left field that the left fielder couldn't handle which put two runners in scoring position with one out, but back-to-back pop-ups ended the game
 
MIGHTY MACS ON THE MOUND
-Manzo (L, 2-3): 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
-Newell: 1 IP, 0 R
 
IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Kmiec: 2-5
-Devenney: 2-4
-Ryan: 1-4, R, 3B
 
UP NEXT
The Macs will travel to Neumann to complete the series on Thursday at 3 p.m.