AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Senior pitcher Steven DiBatista (Clifton Heights, Pa.) tossed eight one-hit innings and fanned 10 batters to help Immaculata University (3-2) blank Saint Joseph's College (0-3), 6-0, in RussMatt Central Florida Invitational baseball action on Tuesday morning.
DiBatista struck out six of the first nine batters he faced and did not allow a hit until sophomore third baseman Michael Wearne (Ellington, Conn.) singled to left center with two out in the top of the sixth inning.
The Mighty Macs scored single runs in the first and third innings with two in the fifth and another pair in the sixth off a Frank Margiotta (Congers, N.Y.) double.
SJC freshman starter Ethan Smith (Hudson Oaks, Texas) was solid in his collegiate debut on the mound with six runs allowed (five earned) on 12 hits and no walks while fanning six batters in 5.1 innings. Freshman southpaw Padraig Mac Seain (Brookline, N.H.) allowed one hit in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief and sophomore Hugh Barrett (Durham, Conn.) tossed a perfect 1-2-3 eighth frame.
For the Mighty Macs, Joey Sacco, Steven Theisen, and Justin Klemick registered three hits apiece.
Saint Joseph's is back in action on Thursday with a pair of games versus the University of Mount Union. First pitch is scheduled for 9:00 AM at Lake Myrtle Complex field #4.
