IMMACULATA, Pa. – The Immaculata baseball team split their doubleheader on Monday against Cabrini. The Mighty Macs won game one 4-1 while dropping game two 4-2. The Mighty Macs now stand with an 8-1 record in Atlantic East play with the Cavaliers handing them their first conference loss.
The bats were quiet on game one as the Mighty Macs and Cavaliers combined for a total of six hits on the seven-inning contest.
Frank Margiotta led off the bottom of the first for the Mighty Macs with a walk. Later, after
Joey Sacco was hit by a pitch and
Joey Wright reached on a walk,
Josh Crowding grounded out to second, scoring Margiotta to break the ice for the Macs. Two batters later,
Ryan Struble hit a sacrifice fly into left field, scoring Sacco as the Macs manufactured a two-run advantage over the Cavaliers.
The next inning,
Isaiah Payton also reached base on a leadoff walk, advancing to third on a stolen base followed by a groundout. Sacco then scored Payton while reaching base on a throwing error by Cabrini as Immaculata increased the lead to 3-0.
Following a quiet third and fourth inning, Cabrini scored their lone run of the contest in the top of the fifth to cut Immaculata's lead to 3-1. That run was quickly erased in the bottom half of the inning. Sacco reached base on a leadoff single, moving to third on two stolen bases. Sharp then batted in Sacco on an error, giving Immaculata the 4-1 lead.
Cabrini managed two baserunners in the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to advance them as Immaculata claimed game one 4-1.
Sacco scored two runs on the game, going 1-for-3 overall on the game.
Mason Keller, meanwhile, pitched six innings of one-run baseball, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out two batters overall.
Following three quiet innings, the Cavaliers kicked off scoring in game two, plating two runners in the top of the fourth.
The Mighty Macs responded in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sacco led off the inning with a walk. Crowding later ripped a two-run home run into right field, tying the contest at 2-2.
Cabrini then regained the lead in the top of the seventh, scoring one run on the inning to claim a 3-2 advantage over Immaculata. Two innings later, Cabrini added an additional run, putting Immaculata down by two heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The Macs were unable to come back in the bottom of the ninth as the Cavaliers secured a sweep on the day with the Macs. Crowding led the Macs on the day, going 1-for-4 at the plate with a two-run home run. Margiotta, meanwhile, went 2-for-4 at the plate with one stolen base on the game.
Immaculata will return to action on Friday as they open up their series against Centenary.
