IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata baseball team captured their second consecutive Atlantic East Conference title, defeating Cabrini 6-0. The Macs battled a tough Cabrini squad, and light rain throughout the game while earning the championship. Mason Keller earned the win going five innings, allowing only five hits and no runs. Stephen DiBatista earned the save going four scoreless innings in relief scattering three hits.

After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, Cabrini threatened in the top of the second inning, getting their first two runners on base. Mason Keller induced the next Cabrini hitter to pop up a sacrifice bunt attempt, then got the next hitter to a ground ball to Maddox Stern who started the inning-ending double play to keep the game scoreless.

Immaculata would open the scoring in the bottom of the third when Josh Crowding hit a one-out double to right center. Joey Sacco then singled to center to score Crowding to give the Macs the 1-0 lead.

Cabrini would threaten again in the top of the fourth with a walk and a single. Mason Keller struck out Zac Brook and got Ryan Dipper to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the score 1-0.

Immaculata would add onto their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Josh Crowding got his second double to right center of the game with one-out. Joey Sacco got his second RBI of the game when he singled to center to score Josh Crowding to give Immaculata the 2-0 lead.

Stephen DiBatista took over on the mound in the top of the sixth for Keller and was able to keep Cabrini off the board.

Immaculata broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh, as Maddox Stern and Frank Margiotta both hit singles. After Cabrini made a pitching change, Stern was picked off second base. Joey Wright reached on a fielder's choice where both he and Frank Margiotta were ruled safe. Josh Crowding was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Joey Sacco picked up his third RBI of the game with a bases loaded walk. Steven Theisen then doubled to left center to score Wright and Crowding. Ryan Struble then singled to center to score Sacco, as the Macs took a 6-0 lead.

Stephen DiBatista worked easily through the eighth and ninth innings. With two outs in the top of the ninth, centerfielder Frank Margiotta made a sliding catch in centerfield to closeout the championship for the Mighty Macs.

The Mighty Macs were led offensively by Joey Sacco who went 2-for-2, with two walks, and three RBIs on the day.  Steven Theisen was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.  Josh Crowding was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored.

Joey Sacco was 7-for-11 (.636 average) with four runs scored, and five RBIs throughout the tournament and was the named the Atlantic East Championship Tournament MVP.

With the victory, the Mighty Macs earn both the Atlantic East Conference Championship and the automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament. The Macs now wait for the NCAA Division III selection show, which will take place on Monday, May 15^th at 12:00 P.M. A watch party will take place in Alumnae Hall Gymnasium for all students, faculty, and staff.