NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Immaculata softball team opened their 2023 season by defeating Penn State – Altoona 7-5 in their first game of the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic
Immaculata got on the board early, in the top of the first inning when Peyton McGowan singled to right field scoring Jess Oldham from third. Sara Rode followed with a single to left field that scored Carlee Karcher and Peyton McGowan to give the Macs a 3-0 lead.
Penn State Altoona responded in the bottom of the first, scoring one run to close the Macs lead to 3-1. Immaculata responded in the top of the second inning, when Bryele Anthony singled with two outs, then stole second base and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Anthony would score on a passed ball to restore Immaculata's three-run lead.
Penn State Altoona managed to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning, to close Immaculata's lead to 4-3. With two outs, and Penn State Altoona runners on first and second. Immaculata starter Emma Mercadante induced the next hitter to pop out to second base to end the rally.
In the top of the fourth inning with one out, the leadoff hitter Bryele Anthony beat out an infield single. Anthony then stole second base, and for a second time advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Kaitlyn Carter executed a perfect squeeze bunt, that scored Bryele Anthony to put Immaculata up 5-3.
Immaculata starting pitcher Emma Mercadante managed to cruise through the fourth and fifth innings to keep the Macs up by two.
Immaculata would add to their lead in the top of the sixth when Carlee Karcher tripled down the right-field line to score Bryele Anthony and Kaitlyn Carter to increase the Macs lead to 7-3.
In the bottom of the seventh Penn State Altoona closed the gap to 7-5 with a two-run home run to right center and got runners on second and third with only one out. Emma Mercadante struck out the next batter and got the following batter to fly out to right field to earn the complete game win 7-5.
The Mighty Macs were led offensively by Sara Rode who went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, Carlee Karcher who went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and Bryele Anthony who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three stolen bases.
Winning pitcher Emma Mercadante got the complete game win allowing nine hits, five runs, and had nine strikeouts.
Immaculata will be back in action tonight, Wednesday, March 8th when they take on Blackburn College at 5:00 PM.
