SALISBURY, Md.- The Immaculata baseball team (0-1) was excited to get their 2019 season started at No. 22 Salisbury (0-2) on a beautiful Friday afternoon, and after holding the lead into the sixth, the Mighty Macs surrendered three seventh inning runs and were unable to come back in a 5-2 loss.
 
Senior Billy Manzo was effective in his first outing of the season as he went five innings and allowed just one run, while junior third baseman Tyler Kmiec was the offensive standout with two hits and a run scored.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Mighty macs got the start they were looking for as freshman second baseman Joey Sacco singled up the middle in his first collegiate at bat, and Kmiec singled to center to put two on with nobody out.
-A walk by sophomore catcher Richard Fontanillas loaded the bases and a wild pitch scored Sacco before a sacrifice fly by senior designated hitter Tom Prato put the Macs up 2-0
-Manzo preserved the lead through one despite a walk and a double before Salisbury cut the lead in half in the second hole after an RBI double
-Manzo then settled in and retired nine of the next 10 and working around a two-out fifth inning single
-The Macs had another chance in the sixth with two runners on by a walk and a hit batter, but a strikeout ended the threat
-Junior Timmy Newell came on in relief and Salisbury tied it in the sixth on a one-out single before Newell ended the inning with a double play
-Salisbury took the lead for good in the seventh on an RBI fielder's choice against Hollenbach before two-run home run made it 5-2
-The Macs were unable to take advantage of an error in the eighth and fell in their opener
 
IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Kmiec: 2-3, R, BB
-Sacco: 1-5, R
-Prato: RBI
-Szekeres: 1-1
 
IU LEADERS ON THE MOUND
-Manzo: 5 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, K
-Newell (0-1): 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R
-Hollenbach: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R
-Smiley: 1.1 IP, K
 
UP NEXT
The Mighty Macs will host Delaware Valley on Wednesday, February 27^th in the IU home opener.