IMMACULATA, Pa. - Billy Manzo limited visiting Rutgers-Camden to one run over six innings Monday afternoon before handing the game over to Greg Grandelli who held the Scarlet Raptors to one hit over three scoreless frames as the Immaculata University baseball team won its fourth-straight - and eighth in its last ten - 5-1. After being held scoreless for the first four innings in the non-conference clash, the Macs scored all five of its runs across the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, highlighted by run-scoring doubles from seniors Connor Blesi and Tom Prato.

The Mighty Macs pitching staff has yielded only four earned runs in its last three games.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Manzo was on from the onset of his start Monday afternoon, retiring ten of the first 12 batters he faced while consistently keeping the Scarlet Raptors off-balance at the plate. Rutgers-Camden was able to get to the senior lefty in the top of the fourth after a pair of one-out singles resulted in a sacrifice fly to bring in the game's first run.
-The Mighty Mac lineup was held hitless through the first four innings, but Blesi put an end to that trend with a towering double to straightaway center, scoring Corey Pezak all the way from first who drew a leadoff walk in the at-bat prior.
-The Macs broke the 1-1 tie in the following frame as the first three batters reached before Prato was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to plate the go-ahead run. Pezak followed with a bunt single to the right side to plate Joey Sacco who also had a push-bunt single earlier in the inning.
-Prato plated the Macs' fifth and final run of the afternoon in the home half of the seventh a two-strike, two-out double to the alley in right-center to score Zach Van Meter who was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning.
-Grandelli was masterful out of the bullpen to close out the 5-1 victory, recording his first save of the season with three scoreless innings. The junior right-hander retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed just one hit - a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth with the bases empty - to begin the five-game week on a high note.

IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Prato: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI
-Blesi: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI
-Pezak: 1-2, RBI, R, 2 BB

IU LEADERS ON THE MOUND
-Manzo: W (5-1), 6 IP, 5H, R, 5K
-Gradelli: SV (1), H, 0R, K

UP NEXT
Immaculata (18-11) begins its home-and-home series with Penn State Berks Tuesday afternoon in Reading before hosting the Nittany Lions Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.