IMMACULATA, Pa. – A comeback in the bottom of the ninth fell short as the Immaculata baseball team dropped their series opener against Neumann 10-8 on Friday afternoon. Josh Crowding recorded his 100^th career hit on the game while he and Joey Wright were each one hit away from the cycle.
 
After letting up a solo home run in the top of the first, the Mighty Macs claimed a lead in the bottom of the first. Joey Sacco tied the game up at 1-1 with a solo home run of his own as the second batter of the game for the Macs. Joey Wright then followed up with a double off the left field fence before moving to third base on a wild pitch. After Josh Crowding and Louis Sharp walked to load the bases, Wright scored on a bases loaded walk to Jason Smiley, giving the Macs a 2-1 lead.
 
Neumann then tied the game up at 2-2 in the top of the third inning.
 
The Mighty Macs regained the lead quickly in the bottom of the third. Wright led off the inning with a triple into right-center field. Wright later scored on a Sharp single into left-center field to give the Macs the 3-2 lead.
 
The Macs' lead, however, was short-lived as the Knights scored four runs in the top of the fourth, claiming a 6-3 lead over the Macs. Neumann then added four runs in the top of the sixth, increasing their lead over the Macs to 10-3.
 
Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Crowding smoked a solo home run into left field to kick off the inning for the Macs. Later in the inning, Smiley reached base on a fielder's choice, advancing to second on a single to Ryan Struble. Isaiah Payton then worked a walk, loading the bases for the Macs. Next up, Steven Theisen hit a sacrifice fly into left field, scoring Smiley as the Macs cut the deficit to 10-5.
 
Next inning, Crowding hit a two-out double into center field to put a runner on for the Macs. After Sharp walked, Smiley hit a double of his own, scoring Crowding and moving Sharp to third.
 
Down to their final three outs, the Macs went to work in the bottom of the ninth. Theisen led off the inning with a single into right field. After a walk from Margiotta put two runners on for the Macs. Wright then hit a single into left field, scoring both runners to bring the Macs to within two at 10-8. Crowding then worked a walk, putting the tying run on base for the Macs. The Mighty Macs would not be able to convert, however, as they dropped their series opener to the Knights 10-8.
 
Joey Wright led the Macs offensively on the day, going 4-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI while going a home run short of the cycle. Josh Crowding, meanwhile, went 3-for-4 on the day, recording his 100^th career hit, a single, in the bottom of the fifth. Crowding was also a triple short of the cycle, hitting a home run while scoring two runs and one RBI while walking twice.
 
The Mighty Macs will return to action on Saturday as they travel to the Knights for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 P.M.