IMMACULATA, Pa. - It was a pitcher's duel on Wednesday as the Immaculata Mighty Macs opened the Atlantic East Tournament with a 2-1 victory against the Marymount Saints. Jason Hughes pitched a one-run complete game. The victory also serves as head coach Josh Copskey's 100th collegiate victory as a head coach.
The Mighty Macs scored first, plating one run in the bottom of the second. Steven Theisen reached base on a fielder's choice before advancing to third on a throwing error by the first basemen. Ryan Struble then struck out, but reached base on a passed ball with two outs. Theisen scored on the passed ball to give the Macs a 1-0 lead.
The Saints then responded in the top of the fourth. After the leadoff batter reached base, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, he scored on a single to tie the game up at 1-1. Then, in the next inning, Frank Margiotta made a diving stop on a line drive, preventing an extra-base hit for the Saints.
The Saints maintained a no-hitter off the Macs until the bottom of the seventh when Josh Crowding reached base on a lead-off single. Crowding then advance to second on a sacrifice bunt from Louis Sharp. Steven Theisen then reached base on an infield single, moving Crowding to third. Ryan Struble then reached base on a bunt single back to the pitcher, loading the bases. Next to the plate, Jason Smiley ripped a sacrifice fly into center field, scoring Crowding to take the lead for the Macs.
Starting pitcher Jason Hughes remained in to start the top of the ninth for the Mighty Macs. After striking out the first batter, Hughes let up a single into left field. Hughes then struck out the final two batters, securing the complete game victory for the Mighty Macs. It took Hughes 127 pitches to secure his complete game, hurling six strikeouts while walking zero Saints batters. The sophomore starting pitcher earned his seventh win of the season while lowering his season earned run average to 1.38.
Offensively, the Mighty Macs were led by Josh Crowding and Steven Theisen, who each went 1-for-3 at the plate, scoring the Macs' two runs of the day. Crowding also reached base on a walk. Meanwhile the Macs put on a fantastic day defensively, recording zero errors while Frank Margiotta made several key plays, including a diving catch in the fifth, in center field.
"In a game like this, free bases is usually a tell-tale sign of who is going to win the game. We played a clean game, but now it is ready to prepare for tomorrow," said Copskey following the game.
With the victory, the Mighty Macs will move on to the winner's bracket of the Atlantic East Tournament and will compete in game two of Thursday's three scheduled games. Should the Mighty Macs claim victory in Thursday's contest, they will move on to the Atlantic East Championship game on Friday. If not, the Macs will play again in game three as the double elimination tournament continues. First pitch for the Macs is scheduled for 12:30 P.M. on Thursday against the victor of the Cabrini-Gwynedd Mercy game.
