LANGHORNE, Pa. - The Immaculata University baseball team used five home runs from five different players Thursday afternoon at Cairn in non-conference action, as the Mighty Macs went on to rout the Highlanders behind another big offensive performance, 12-3. Pete Zielinski,
Ty Esenwein and
Tom Prato each hit their first-career home runs in the effort, while
Richard Fontanillas and
Connor Blesi added solo shots of their own.
Senior
Zach Smiley made his first-career start on the mound for the Macs and made the most of his opportunity, as the conference-leader in saves went six strong innings allowing one run on four hits to pick up his second win of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs were first on the board yet again Thursday as Fontanillas drove in
Joey Sacco with a run-scoring ground out in the top of the first. The Highlanders answered with a run in the bottom of the third to knot the game at one, but a seven-run fourth put the Macs in complete control early on.
-Zielinski lifted a high drive over the fence in left - a three-run shot - to break the tie before Esenwein was awarded home on a Cairn balk to make it a 5-1 game. With two outs in the inning and
Zach Van Meter in scoring position after doubling earlier in the inning,
Cameron Delisle plated the junior catcher with a single to left-center before coming around on Prato's first-career home run.
-The Macs continued to put together productive at-bats in th fifth, as Blesi led off the frame with a solo shot before Esenwein launched his first-career homer - a two-run shot - to extend the IU lead to an even ten.
-Fontanillas put the Macs' 12th run of the afternoon on the board in the top of the ninth with a solo shot - his second of the season - before
Greg Grandelli closed out the Macs' seventh win in their last nine with two innings of one-run ball.
IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Zielinski: 2-5, 3-Run HR (1), 3 RBI
-Esenwein: 2-3, 2-Run HR (1), 2 RBI
-Prato: 1-3, 2-Run HR (1), 2 RBI
-Blesi/Fontanillas: Solo HR each
IU LEADERS ON THE MOUND
-Smiley: W (2-0), 6 IP, 4H, R
-Grandelli: 2 IP, H, R, K
UP NEXT
Immaculata (17-11, 6-4 Atlantic East) hosts Rutgers-Camden Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
