IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata baseball team secured their ticket to the Atlantic East Championship game as they defeated No. 2 Cabrini 5-0 on Thursday. The Mighty Macs now own a 27-12 record on the season and have won the most games in a single season in program history.
Frank Margiotta hit double down the left field line with two outs as the Macs sought to get on the board in the bottom of the third. Following a hit-by-pitch to Joey Sacco, Joey Wright loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk. Josh Crowding then stepped up to the plate and slapped a double into left-center field, clearing the bases to give the Macs a 3-0 lead. Louis Sharp followed up with a single into center field, scoring Crowding as the Macs claimed a 4-0 lead over the Cavaliers.
The Macs then looked to extend their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Struble led off the inning with a single into right field, later moving to third on a single from Giancarlo Palmieri. Margiotta then stepped up to the plate and dropped a bunt down the first base line, scoring Struble to increase the Macs's lead to 5-0.
Mason Keller pitched 6.1 innings of shutout baseball for the Mighty Macs, keeping the potent Cavaliers offense to two hits and three walks overall while striking out four batters on the outing.
Wright reached baser on a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh; After moving to second on a hit-by-pitch to Crowding, Wright scored on an RBI-single from Steven Theisen, increasing the Macs' lead to 6-0.
Stephen DiBatista entered the game in relief for the Macs, taking over for Keller in the seventh and not relinquishing the ball for the remainder of the game. DiBatista struck out two batters over the course of 2.2 innings, allowing two hits and one walk on his way to securing the combined shutout. Keller earned the win, his sixth of the season, on the game.
The Macs' offense was led the on the day by Josh Crowding, who went 1-for-3 with a bases clearing, three-RBI double, scoring one run while walking twice on the day. Joey Wright scored two runs on two walks while Ryan Struble went 3-for-4 on the game, scoring one run.
The Mighty Macs will return to action on Friday as they compete for the program's first Atlantic East Championship. They will face off against the winner of the Cabrini-Marymount game in a two-game series. As the victor of the winner's bracket, the Macs need only win one game on Friday to secure the Atlantic East Championship. Meanwhile, their opponent will need to secure two victories. Game one is scheduled to begin at 12:00 P.M. while game two, if needed, is scheduled for 3:30 P.M.
