RADNOR, PA – The Cabrini baseball team capped a wild weekend with a thrilling 9-5 come-from-behind victory over the No. 4 seeded Mighty Macs to advance to next weekend's Atlantic East Conference Championship.
 
Game Two: Cabrini 9, Immaculata 5
The Diamond Cavs faced an early deficit after Immaculata opened the game with a grand slam in the top of the first, courtesy of Richard Fontanillis. The homerun was Fontanillis' sixth of the weekend and 10^th of the season.

Despite the ominous start, Cabrini starter Ray Lutick and the rest of the Cavalier pitching staff buckled down and limited the red hot Macs to just one run on five hits the rest of the way. The sophomore totaled five innings and allowed five runs (four earned), while scattering seven hits. He struck out five.

Classmate Drew Swire and senior Tyler Ronayne combined for the final four innings as they navigated the Macs potent lineup without allowing a hit. A combined four walks and three hit batters, however, added plenty of drama.

The Blue and White received key contributions from junior Shaun Stackhouse (3-5, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 SB), sophomore JD Barrett (1-1, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB), freshman Garrett Laraia (1-4, 2 RBI, 1 2B) and junior Joe Aurite (2-5, 1 RBI, 1 2B) at the dish. Stackhouse, Aurite and Laraia each tallied two out RBI's to highlight the come-from-behind rally.

As mentioned, the Cavs faced an early deficit following the first inning grand slam from the Macs, but showed serious mettle to chip away in a win or go home matchup.

After tallying just one hit through the first three innings, the Blue and White posted a crooked frame in the bottom of the fourth to trim the Macs' lead to 4-3. Sophomore Mack McKisson and senior Tyler Norris opened the inning with singles, while Barrett worked a one out walk to load the bases. Freshman Brandon Loner delivered an RBI fielders choice for the Cavs' first run. Stackhouse followed with an RBI single up the middle, while Aurite capped the inning with a hard hit single through the left side to plate Barrett.

Cameron Delisle and the Macs got a run back in the ensuing frame thanks to a solo shot to straight away center field.

Trailing 5-3, the Cavalier offense delivered their big blow in the bottom of the fifth to seize the momentum. The Cavs quickly loaded the bases with nobody out thanks to a leadoff double from sophomore Brendan Van Belle, followed by a McKisson walk and Norris hit by pitch. Protesto stepped into the box and connected for a hard hit grounder to the first baseman, but an errant throw home from Immaculata's Conor Blesi allowed Van Belle to score and Cabrini to inch closer at 5-4.

Barrett followed with the inning's big blow as he roped a double to left center to hand the Diamond Cavs their first lead of the game at 6-5. Stackhouse quickly made it a 7-5 Cavalier advantage thanks to a single to left, while Laraia capped the inning and chased Immaculata starter Zach Smiley with a two out, two RBI double to left center.

Swire would come on in relief of Lutick for the sixth and seventh innings, before giving way to Ronayne in the top of the eighth with one out and runners on first and second. The veteran issued a walk to the first batter he faced in Fontanillis to load the bases, but retired the next two batters via the strikeout to preserve the lead and escape the jam.

Ronayne collected his fifth save of the season after inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the game in emphatic fashion.

Immaculata's Zach Smiley was saddled with the loss after allowing nine runs, eight earned, in 4.2 innings.

Following today's game, the Cavaliers improve to 31-8 overall and will host next weekend's Atlantic East Conference Championship Series against No.2 Gwynedd Mercy University at Cabrini Carroll Field. Game one of the double elimination series on Friday, May 10^th is slated for 3:30pm.
 
Game One: Immaculata 23, Wesley 6
The Mighty Macs stayed hot to open the day as they rattled off 23 runs on just 18 hits to advance to the decisive game five against the Cavaliers.

Joe Sacco led the offense with three hits and six RBI's, highlighted by a pair of deep balls, while Ty Esenwein drove in four. In total, the Macs tallied five homeruns to backbone the offensive outburst. Gabe Hollenbac collected his fourth victory of the year after tossing six innings and allowing four runs (two earned). Nick DeSantis earned his first save of the season after three quality innings of relief.

Colin Haywood was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) in 2.1 innings.

Alexander Weber paced the Wolverines with a team high three hits and two RBI's, highlighted by an eighth inning homerun to left field.