READING, Pa. – Jess Oldham went 3-for-6 with a home run, five RBI, and three extra base hits as the Immaculata softball team defeated Albright in both halves of their doubleheader on Monday. The Macs wont game one 9-8 before claiming game two 5-3.
The Mighty Macs struck first in game one, scoring two runs in the top of the first.
Bryele Anthony led off the game with a walk, advancing to second on a stolen base. Two batters later,
Cat Knoll stepped up to the plate and slapped a double into center field, scoring Anthony. Knoll then scored following two wild pitches from the Lions as the Macs took a 2-0 lead.
One inning later,
Riece Onorato hit a one-out double to start a rally for the Macs.
Katy Newton and Anthony then worked back-to-back walks to load the bases.
Kaitlyn Carter then hit a single into right-center field to score Onorato. Knoll followed with a walk of her own, batting in Newton. With the bases still loaded,
Jess Oldham stepped up and hit a bases-clearing double into center field. Later,
Peyton McGowan batted Oldham in on an error by the first basemen as the Macs increased their lead to 8-0.
Over the fourth and fifth innings, Albright scored five runs as they begam to work back into the game, with Immaculata holding an 8-5 lead.
The Mighty Macs sought to increase their lead in the top of the sixth.
Elena Anglani hit a double into right field to put a runner on for the Macs. Two batters later, with two outs,
Carly Grandizio batted in Anglani on a double of her own, giving the Macs their ninth run of the game.
The Lions attempted to come back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs on the inning. The Mighty Macs, however, held the line on their way to a 9-8 victory in game one.
As a team, the Mighty Macs recorded ten hits on the game, five of which were doubles from five different batters. Knoll went 1-for-2 on the game with two runs scored, two RBI, a double, and a walk while Oldham went 1-for-3 with a double, three RBI, and one run scored.
The Macs kicked off game two much like game one, scoring runs in the top of the first.
Kaitlyn Carter walked with one out to begin the inning. Later, with two outs, Oldham hit another double into left-center field, scoring Carter.
Sara Rode followed p with a walk before
Peyton McGowan hit a double of her own, scoring Oldham and Rode to give the Macs a 3-0 lead.
Then, in the top of the second, Newton reached base on a bunt single. After advancing to second, Knoll hit a single up the middle, scoring Newton. The Lions then scored one run in the bottom half of the inning as the Macs held onto their lead 4-1.
After two quiet innings, Oldham hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth, increasing the Macs' lead to 5-1. Just like the second inning, the Lions scored a run in the bottom of the fifth as the Macs continued to own a three-run advantage at 5-2. The Lions scored an additional run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Macs held them there as they took the win 5-3. The game was called after the sixth inning due to darkness.
Oldham went 2-for-3 for the Macs on the game with one two runs, two RBI, one double, and one home run while McGowan also went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
The Mighty Macs now conclude their regular season. Having earned the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Atlantic East Tournament, the Macs will begin the postseason on Friday as they face No. 2 Cabrini and No. 5 Marymount.
