LA PLUME, Pa. - Senior
Tom Prato set the Immaculata University baseball program's single-season runs batted in record Tuesday afternoon at Keystone with a ninth-inning, run-scoring single to drive in his 45th run of the season in 34 games. Prato's RBI knock was part of a seven-run ninth inning for the Macs, but the comeback effort came up just short to the Giants as Immaculata dropped its regular season finale, 13-9.
The Mighty Macs trailed 13-1 through four but rallied for eight unanswered runs from the seventh inning on to make it a game late.
Richard Fontanillas and
Ty Esenwein each doubled and drove in a pair of runs in the non-conference defeat.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs were on the board first in the top half of the opening inning after
Tyler Kmiec reached on an error and later came around to score on a wild pitch. Keystone answered back in a big way with six runs on six hits along with the benefit of two IU errors to take its first lead of the day. The Giants later tacked on two in the second and four in the third to put themselves in control early.
-IU was held scoreless from up until the top of the seventh inning when
Corey Pezak and
Domenic Dellabarba both hit one-out singles to set up runners on the corners. The duo then pulled off a double steal to plate the Macs' second run.
-Immaculata rallied for seven runs on just four hits in the top of the ninth to make the game a little too close for comfort for Keystone, as
Stephen Trendler and
Kyle Hannon drew bases loaded walks before Prato lined a run-scoring single ahead of Fontanillas' and Esenwein's consecutive two-run doubles. But the Macs were unable to complete the comeback, falling 13-9.
IU LEADERS AT THE PLATE
-Prato: 2-5, RBI 1B in 9th (45th RBI sets single-season program record)
-Esenwein: 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI
-Fontanillas: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
IU LEADERS ON THE MOUND
-DeSantis: 3 IP, 3H, 0R, 2K
-Huyette: IP, H, K
UP NEXT
Immaculata (20-15) opens Atlantic East Conference Tournament play at Cabrini Friday, taking on Wesley at 12:30 p.m. before facing off with the host Cavaliers at 4 p.m.
