FORT PIERCE, Fla. - The Immaculata University baseball struck for all 17 of its runs in the first four innings of Tuesday morning's non-conference contest and was able to hold off a middle-innings rally from Western Connecticut State to fend off the Colonials, 17-12. Tyler Kmiec and Corey Pezak both logged three-hit days for the Mighty Macs in the effort, while Tom Prato also registered a multi-hit day and drove in three runs. 

Nick DeSantis, Greg Grandelli and Zach Smiley combined to record the final 11 outs out of the bullpen, allowing only three hits and striking out three over a scoreless three and two-thirds innings of relief.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-IU starter Timmy Newell struck out a pair and induced an inning-ending double play ball to strand a runner in scoring position over the course of two scoreless frames to begin his outing, allowing the Mighty Mac offense to go to work and provide plenty of run support for the junior right-hander. After striking for two in the home half of the first inning to open the scoring, the Macs posted a seven-spot in the bottom of the second to take a huge early advantage. Kmiec and Peter Zielinski each ripped run-scoring singles that sandwiched a Prato sac fly to center, his second RBI of the day in the early going. 
-The Colonials plated a run in the top of the third, but the Macs only continued to pad their lead in the home half of the frame. Richard Fontanillas and Joey Sacco each drove in a run with doubles to left, while Zach Van Meter highlighted the inning with a two-run double to left center to score Pezak and Ty Esenwein.
-WestConn responded with a six-spot of its own in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to eight, but Domenic Dellabarba plated a run with a ground out before Zielinski drove in the second run of the frame with a sac fly to right to make it a ten-run IU lead after four complete.
-The Colonials continued to fight their way back into the game with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to make it a five-run game. Despite being held scoreless over the final four innings, DeSantis, Grandelli and Smiley were masterful out of the bullpen to toss three and two-thirds scoreless innings to seal the 17-12 win.

IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Kmiec: 3-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, 3R
-Prato: 2-3, 3 RBI, 2R, 2 BB
-Pezak: 3-6, 2B, 2R
-Van Meter: 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI

IU LEADERS ON THE MOUND
-Newell: W (1-1), 3.2 IP, 4R, 2K
-DeSantis/Grandelli/Smiley: 3.2 IP, 3H, 3K, 0R combined

UP NEXT
Immaculata (3-3) preps for two games on Wednesday, beginning with Earlham College at noon followed by the College of Mount Saint Vincent at 3:30 p.m.