JENKINTOWN, Pa. – The Immaculata baseball team dropped their non-conference matchup against Penn State Abington on Wednesday afternoon 15-9. The Mighty Macs now drop to a 21-9 record overall on the season.
The Mighty Macs struck first as
Frank Margiotta led off the game with a double. After advancing to third on a passed ball, Margiotta was scored on a sacrifice fly from
Joey Sacco to give the Macs the 1-0 lead. The lead would be short-lived, however, as the Nittany Lions scored a run of their own in the bottom of the first.
Jason Smiley kicked off action in the top of the second, singling into left-center field with one out.
Ryan Struble followed up with a single of his own, putting two runners on for the Macs.
Isaiah Payton then stepped up to the plate and drove a ball deep into right-center field for a three-run home run.
Steven Theisen went back-to-back with Payton, slugging a solo shot of his own to give the Macs a 5-1 advantage.
The Mighty Macs then sought to increase their lead in the top of the third.
Joey Wright reached on a leadoff walk to kick off the inning. Later, with one out,
Louis Sharp and Smiley reached base on a single and walk, respectively, to load the bases. Struble then hit a sacrifice fly into left field, scoring Wright. After a walk to Payton re-loaded the bases, Theisen batted a run in on a walk of his own, increasing the Macs' lead to 7-1.
The Macs' lead quickly evaporated in the bottom of the third as the Lions plated seven on the inning to take the 8-7 advantage. The Mighty Mac tied the contest back up in the top of the fourth. Wright hit a double into left-center field before moving to third on an error by the center fielder against
Josh Crowding. Sharp then grounded out to the short stop, batting in Wright to lock the game up at 8-8.
Struble the led off the top of the fifth with a single into left field, moving to second on a passed ball. After Payton was hit by a pitch, Theisen recorded a bunt single, loading the bases. Struble was out at home on a fielder's choice to Margiotta before Sacco singled into left field, scoring Payton. The Macs' one-run lead would not last, however, as the Nittany Lions matched the Macs in the bottom of the fifth.
The Mighty Macs were then unable to plate an additional run for the remainder of the contest. The Nittany Lions, however, scored six runs over three innings on their way to a 15-9 final score.
Isaiah Payton led the Macs' efforts offensively on the day, going 1-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored, three RBI, and a walk overall.
Steven Theisen also homered on the day, going 2-for-4 with one run scored, two RBI, and a walk.
