IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata baseball team dropped their NCAA Regional opener against Keystone 7-5 on Friday. Louis Sharp picked up four RBI on the game while Jason Hughes pitched seven innings, striking out seven batters.
Keystone kicked off the scoring for the day in the top of third, hitting a two-run home run into right field, putting Immaculata in an early 2-0 hole.
Giancarlo Palmieri and Frank Margiotta kicked off the bottom of the third with back-to-back singles, putting two runners on for the Macs. Later in the inning, Joey Wright reached base on a fielder's choice while Palmieri advanced to third on an error, loading the bases. Then, with two outs, Louis Sharp strung a single into left field, scoring two runners to tie the game at two. Wright then advanced to third on a wild pitch, forcing an errant throw by the catcher, scoring on the play to give the Macs a 3-2 lead.
Two innings later, Wright hit a two-out single into right-center field to get a baserunner on for the Macs. Josh Crowding then stroked a double down the right field line, advancing Wright to third. Sharp then batted in both runners on a sharp single up the middle, increasing the Macs' lead to 5-2.
The Giants began to cut into the Macs' lead in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs as the Macs' lead dropped to one at 5-4.
Jason Hughes ended the day for the Mighty Macs having thrown seven innings, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out seven Giants batters.
Keystone then rallied in the top of the eighth, scoring one run to tie the game up at 5-5. Crowding then led off the bottom half of the inning with a double down the right field line, advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt from Sharp. Then, in the top of the ninth, Keystone added two runs to take a 7-5 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
The Mighty Macs threatened in the bottom of the ninth but were unable to get runs across as the Giants claimed game one of the NCAA Regional 7-5.
Louis Sharp led the Mighty Macs offensively on the day, going 2-for-3 with four RBI. Josh Crowding, meanwhile, went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one run scored.
The Macs will now play with their backs against the wall as they face the loser of the Ithaca-Montclair State matchup in Saturday's 8:30 A.M. elimination game.
