IMMACULATA, PA - The Cavaliers dropped a pair of games today to CSAC opponent Immaculata University, losing by scores of 6-1 in game one and 6-3 in game two. The Cavs' offense mustered just four runs and seven hits between the two games as the Mighty Macs' pitching staff kept the Blue and White off balance throughout.
Game One Recap - Immaculata 6, Cabrini 1
The Mighty Macs received a dominant pitching performance from starter Trevor O'Brien, as the junior fired a complete game (7IP) and allowed just a single run and hit, while also striking out a program record 11 batters.
Tyler Norris did the damage for the Cavs as he finished 1-3 with the lone RBI, as well as a stolen base.
Shaun Stackhouse also picked up a stolen base, giving him a team high eight steals on the season.
The Blue and White scored early as they pushed across the games first run in the opening frame. Stackhouse opened it up with a leadoff walk and promptly stole second to move into scoring position. After a pair of strikeouts from
Jake Dohar and
Dylan Butler, Norris delivered with a single to center to plate Stackhouse.
O'Brien would shut the door after that, however as he would go on to face just one over the minimum the remainder of the game.
The Mighty Macs would push across all the runs they would need in their half of the inning. Two walks to Immaculata's first three batters put the early pressure of Cavs' starter
Josh Breittholz (4IP, 7H, 6ER, 4BB, 3K). Justin Dempsey, the games next batter, singled through the left side to even things at one a piece. A double steal from the Mighty Macs gave them the 2-1 advantage, which was highlighted by Ryan Ficca's swipe of home. An ensuing double scored Dempsey and would prove to be all the Mighty Macs would need to hold off the Cavs in game one.
Michael Rodriguez came on in relief of Breittholz in the fifth inning and threw two hitless frames, capping the score at 6-1.
Game Two Recap - Immaculata 6, Cabrini 3
Game two featured another strong performace from a Mighty Macs starter, this time from the arm of Ryan Blough. Blough racked up 10 strikeouts, nearly matching his predecessor, over six innings and allowed six hits and two earned runs.
Ryan Givens (4.1IP, 9H, 4ER, 1K) toed the rubber for the Blue and White and found himself in some early trouble in the bottom of the first. A double followed by a hit batter put runners on first and second with only one out. A wild pitch to the games next batter further complicated things as runners now stood on second and third. A single from Dempsey, who was able to advance to second on the throw in, pushed across the games first run.
The Cavaliers would even things up in the top of the second thanks to an RBI single from
Joe Aurite that scored
Erick Vicario.
Immaculata would tack on another in the bottom of the second to briefly take the 2-1 lead.
The top of the third started with a walk from Dohar followed by a error on the shortstop that allowed Butler to reach safely at first and moved Dohar to third. A second walk in the inning, this time to Norris, loaded the bases with nobody out. Blough limited the damage, however as he got
Colin Birzes to roll over into a double play, trading two outs for a run. A strikeout from
Michael Mescia would end the inning.
An error and a double in the fourth allowed the Mighty Macs to push across two more runs and take a 4-2 lead.
The Cavs would pick up their third and final run in the sixth courtesy of a Dohar RBI single.
The Blue and White certainly had their chances in this one as they left a total of 10 runners on base, including at least one runner in every inning. If you're looking for a positive to take away, look no further than the bullpen. Rodriguez and
Andrew Del Giudice combined to throw 3.2 innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run.
After today's action, the Cavaliers record moves to 7-8 (1-4 CSCA) on the season. The series finale is slated for Monday at Immaculata with first pitch at 3:30pm.
