IMMACULATA, Pa. – Behind a strong pitching day from Alex LePage, and powerful hitting from JT Luther, Immaculata baseball finished off the Neumann University Knights 11-1 on Friday in a seven-inning mercy rule.

The Mighty Macs are 9-14 for the season. They are 4-3 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST NEUMANN

• From the first pitch, both sides were engaged in a pitching duel. Neumann got the initial hit of the game in the top of the second, but LePage recorded a strikeout on the next batter. A Luke Hardnock RBI single put the Mighty Macs on the board, which brought Luther home. Neumann tied it up in the third on an RBI single with a runner on second. Immaculata, though, eliminated another scoring threat moments later, with the following batter grounding out into a double play. The Knights returned the favor to conclude the third with their own double play. The two sides were tied 1-1 through three.
• Luther rounded home again in the fourth on a Ryan Nace RBI double. The lead extended to 3-1, thanks to a Hardnock sac-fly. Immaculata's offense exploded in the bottom of the fifth with six runs. A two-run Luther single and a Robert Woodward two-run triple did the most damage, with the score expanding to 9-1. Luther's afternoon continued in the sixth, adding an RBI single. Nick Turnage hit a sac-fly to bump the advantage to 10 before the next batter was retired on a strikeout. With bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Neumann had a chance to trim the deficit. But, Immaculata fielded a groundout for the game's final out. The Mighty Macs won via mercy rule 11-1 in seven innings.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Luther led the team with three runs, three hits, and three RBIs.
• Turnage and Harnock each had two hits and two RBIs.
• LePage went all seven innings with 116 pitches. He only allowed one run and struck out six batters.

UP NEXT
The Mighty Macs travel to Neumann for a doubleheader with the Knights tomorrow, Saturday, April 11. Game time is set for 12 p.m.