IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata University baseball team opened Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play Friday against visiting Cairn, dropping the front end of the doubleheader, 5-1, before rebounding for a 9-5 victory in game two. Senior Eddie Decker was strong in his first home start of 2018, limiting the Highlanders to four hits over six innings while striking out eight to pick up the win on the mound.

Justin Dempsey ignited the offense in the game two victory, belting a pair of extra-base hits and driving in three to salvage the doubleheader split.

GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Following a 1-2-3 top of the first from lefty Billy Manzo, the Macs went to work right away as Tristan Ryan and Justin Dempsey both reached and moved into scoring position after a Tyler Kmiec bunt single. Brad Misialek plated Ryan with the game's first run with a fly ball to left deep enough to score the speedy centerfielder, giving IU the early advantage.
-Manzo was sharp from the jump in Friday's opener, retiring the first nine batters he faced to keep the Highlanders scoreless through three. However, Immaculata was equally stymied by Cairn starter Emilio Alvarez as the Macs' offense mustered only one more hit after Kmiec's single in the first.
-Cairn broke through with three runs in the fourth - all with two outs and with the aid of a costly IU error - to take a 3-1 lead. The Highlanders also strung together three-straight hits in the frame.
-After shutting down the Macs in the bottom half of the fourth, the Highlanders added two more insurance runs in the fifth after two more defensive miscues brought in a pair of unearned runs.
-Immaculata attemped to get back into the game in the bottom of the fifth with runners on the corners and two outs, but Cairn reliever Sam Dralle induced an inning-ending groundout to all but seal game one, ending in a 5-1 final.

IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Kmiec: 1-3
-Misialek: Sac Fly

IU LEADERS ON THE BUMP
-Manzo: L (2-1), 5.0 IP, 5R (0ER), 2K
-Grandelli: 2 IP, 2H, 0R, 2K

GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Eddie Decker was brilliant in his sixth start of his senior campaign, holding the Highlanders scoreless through the first five innings with six strikeouts, while also holding on to a no-hit bid through four and two-thirds. Decker would end his outing with his eighth strikeout of the afternoon, putting him in line for his first win of the season.
-The Macs were first on the board again in the nightcap, as Kmiec started the rally with a one-out single to left and followed that up with a swipe of second. After a Dempsey fly out to right to move Kmiec to third, the Macs loaded the bases with a catcher's interference call and a hit batter in Cameron Delisle. Cairn catcher Brett Marks attempted to throw behind Delisle at first, but the ball got away from the first basemen allowing Kmiec to cross the plate. Back-to-back walks to Chris Szekeres and Vinny Carlesi forced in the second run of the frame.
-Dempsey lofted an RBI double to right to score Ryan - who singled and stole second earlier in the top of the second - to give the Macs a three-run advantage.
-After Decker struck out the side in the third, IU continued its torrid start with two more runs in the home half of the third. Szekeres singled to center with one out and Carlesi followed with a double over the head of the right fielder, setting up two in scoring position with one away. A broken squeeze play ended up in a double steal of home and third, and IU put the play on again on the very next pitch, as Zach Van Meter brought in Carlesi on the sacrifice.
-IU broke the game wide open in the fourth with four runs to extend the lead to 9-0. Ryan and Kmiec singled to start the frame, and Dempsey followed with a towering two-run triple to left center to bring in two.
-Following a Cairn pitching change, Misialek welcomed the reliever into the game with a run-scoring single to right, and Delisle laced a single to left center to push Misialek into scoring position. Szekeres followed with a comebacker to the mound, but the throw to second was over the head of the shortstop covering, allowing Misialek to scamper home.
-Cairn threatened to get back in the game with three runs in the sixth and two in the ninth to get within four, but Gabe Hollenbach closed the door to secure the 9-5 victory.

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

IU LEADERS ON THE BUMP
-Decker: W (1-4), 6 IP, 4H, 3R, 8K

UP NEXT
Immaculata (6-12, 1-1 CSAC) continues its conference slate Tuesday, welcoming in Gwynedd Mercy. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.