IMMACULATA, Pa. - The second-seeded Immaculata University softball team opened play in the first-ever Atlantic East Tournament Saturday afternoon as one of the two host institutions for the pool play round, and despite dropping the opening game to Wesley, 5-4, the Macs rallied to defeat third-seeded Cabrini later in the afternoon to advance to Sunday with a trip to the Atlantic East Championship on the line.
Keani Hindle launched a three-run home run in the seventh inning of the opening game - her tenth of the season - setting the program's single-season home run record.
Wesley deafeated Cabrini, 16-1, in the middle game, meaning the Mighty Macs will have defeat the Wolverines twice on Sunday to advance to the championship round.
#5 WESLEY 5, #2 IMMACULATA 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs were able to get on the board first against a tough Wesley squad in the bottom of the second when
Kayla Sponsel drew a leadoff walk and later came around to score on a two-out wild pitch.
-Jess Bormann kept the Wolverines scoreless through three before Welsey was able to jump out in front 2-1 in the top of the fourth. Wesley held its one-run lead into the top of the seventh, but added three insurance runs in the frame on back-to-back home runs to take a four-run lead into the bottom half.
-Abby Carter and
Ashley Rey both singled to begin the home half of the seventh before Hindle launched a towering three-run shot to center to cut the deficit to one. The Macs were able to get the tying run to second with two outs, but Wesley induced a game-ending fly out to hold on for the 5-4 victory.
IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Hindle: 1-3, 3-Run HR (10) in 7th (sets single-season program record)
-Carter: 3-3, R
-Rey: 3-4, R
IU LEADERS IN THE CIRCLE
-Bormann: 7 IP, 6H, 5R, 6K
#2 IMMACULATA 4, #3 CABRINI 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs were locked into another pitchers duel in the early going against Cabrini as both sides were held scoreless through three.
Paige Gerst broke the scoreless tie with a two-run shot to dead center, her second of the season.
-The Cavaliers cut the deficit to one in the home half with a run-scoring single, but
Emily Mesey put the Macs back up by three with her first-career home run, a two-out, two-run shot to left to score
Sydney Sturgill who singled to lead off the inning.
-Cabrini made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs on run-scoring singles to cut the IU lead to just one, but
Renee DeAngelis was able to strand a leadoff double at third in the final inning to secure the 4-3 victory.
IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Mesey: 1-4, 2-Run HR (1)
-Gerst: 1-2, 2-Run HR (2)
-Sturgill: 2-3, R
IU LEADERS IN THE CIRCLE
-Petito: 5 IP, 9H, 3R, 4K
-DeAngelis: 2 IP, 4H, 0R
UP NEXT
Immaculata (26-10-2) takes on Wesley Sunday morning at 10 a.m. needing to win two games against the Wolverines to advance to the Atlantic East Championship
