ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University baseball team split a doubleheader with Immaculata on Saturday afternoon but took the season series 2-1. The Mighty Macs took the first game 10-4 before the Knights won the nightcap 12-2.
The Knights took an early lead in game one in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs,
Anthony Rakotz walked and
Thomas Carroll singled.
Joe Boccio singled to right field, bringing Rakotz home for the first run of the game.
In the third inning, the Mighty Macs capitalized on several walks to load the bases before hitting a bases-clearing triple. Immaculata held a 5-1 lead after three.
Neumann added two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homerun by
Josh Finger.
Brandon Colon scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning for the 10-4 final.
Boccio and
JerVal Shuler each finished the game with two hits.
On the mound,
Jack Valentine started for the Knights and went 3.0 innings. He allowed five earned runs on two hits while walking six batters and striking out four.
Gatlin Hovenstine came in relief and went 3.0 innings He gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits with two strikeouts.
Vic Mejia also contributed from the bullpen, pitching the top of the seventh.
In the second game, Neumann bounced back and won 12-2 in seven innings. Carroll led the Knights with four hits, including two doubles, and secured two RBI. Boccio contributed two runs, two hits, including a home run, and three RBI.
Donovan Brooks added three hits including a double, two RBI, and two stolen bases.
On the pitching side,
Zach Mullins delivered a solid performance, going 5.0 innings while allowing four hits and two earned runs.
Rey Carrier picked up his first collegiate win, going 2.0 hitless innings.
The Mighty Macs struck early in the first inning, scoring two runs. The Knights responded in the fourth when Carroll scored on an RBI single by Rakotz,
Neumann gained momentum in the sixth. Boccio led off with a double, followed by a bunt single by Shuler. As Shuler stole second, the Mighty Macs threw the ball into center field, allowing Boccio to score and tie the game at two. Rakotz drew a walk and stole second. Immaculata misplayed the ball again and Shuler scored, giving the Knights a 3-2 edge. Brooks singled in Rakotz for a 4-2 score after six innings.
The Knights put together eight runs on nine hits in the bottom of the seventh for the 12-2 final. Boccio hit a homerun in the inning for three runs.
Tyler Kilmer, Brooks, Colon and Carroll all had RBI hits in the inning.
Neumann (11-6, 2-1 Atlantic East) will host Notre Dame (Md.) for the first time on Tuesday afternoon beginning at 3:30 PM.
