WINCHESTER, Va.- The Immaculata baseball team (29-13) was back in action today in the NCAA Regionals taking on the host, the third-ranked Shenandoah University Hornets (39-8). The Mighty Macs trailed 10-0, before scoring seven runs in the top of the eighth inning. The comeback fell short as the Macs lost to the Hornets by a score of 11-7 and are now eliminated from regional play.
Immaculata threatened to score in the bottom of the first inning when Joey Wright walked with one out. Josh Crowding followed with a single to right field. Joey Sacco grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
Shenandoah opened the scoring in the top of the second inning using an RBI double to right center to take a 1-0 lead. Immaculata starter Stephen DiBatista was able to work out of the inning to keep the score at 1-0.
In the top of the fifth inning, Shenandoah used three consecutive bunt singles to load the bases with no outs. The Hornets would score runs on a fielder's choice, a double steal of home, and a two-run double down the right-field line to take a 5-0 lead.
Ryan Crowell came in to relieve DiBatista with two outs in the fifth and retired the side on one pitch with a groundout to shortstop Steven Thiesen.
In the bottom of the fifth, Justin Klemick singled to centerfield, and Jay Lawrence drew a walk to give the Macs two runners on base with one out. Robert Woodward grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Shenandoah added to their lead in the top of the sixth with four runs using five hits, including a solo home run to take a 9-0 lead.
Shenandoah would add a tenth run in the top of the eighth inning on bases loaded walk.
The Mighty Macs got on the board in the bottom of the eighth, when Jay Lawrence led off with a single up the middle. Ricky Templeton came on to pinch run for Lawrence. Bob Woodward then singled to right center to move Templeton to second. Ricky Templeton would score the Macs' first run on an RBI single by Frank Margiotta. Joey Wright walked to load the bases. After a pitching change for the Hornets, Ryan Crowding hit a bases-loaded ground-rule double to right-center to close the Shenandoah lead to 10-3. Joey Sacco then lifted a single to left field over the shortstop to score Joey Wright. Steven Theisen, they drew a walk to load the bases.
Matt Passerini pinch-hit for Ryan Struble and grounded out to second base to score Josh Crowding to close the score to 10-5. Justin Klemick then singled to right field to score Crowding to pull the Macs within four at 10-6. Anthony Sasso was brought in as a pinch hitter for Ricky Templeton and struck out for the second out of the inning. The Macs executed a double steal as Steven Theisen stole home to close the score to 10-7. Robert Woodward struck out for the final out.
Shenandoah added that another run in the top of the ninth on a fielder's choice to second base.
In the bottom of the ninth, Frank Margiotta and Josh Crowding hit singles to put two on base with one out. Shenandoah was able to turn a game-ending double play to win 11-7.
The Mighty Macs were led today by Josh Crowding who was 3-for-5 with a two-RBI double in the seventh inning. The three hits give Crowding 61 hits for the season, which is a new IU program record for hits in a single season. His two RBIs gave Crowding 56 on the season, also a new IU program record for RBIs in one season. Justin Klemick was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Frank Margiotta was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Stephen DiBatista took the loss on the mound falling to 5-3 on the season.
The Mighty Macs have now completed their 2023 season. A recap of the 2023 season will follow next week.
