STEVENSON Md. – The combination of senior John D'Aquanno and sophomore Jacob Norris scored four runs and drove in seven as the Stevenson baseball team won their 2018 Home Opener over non-conference visitor Immaculata University by a final of 14-10 on Wednesday afternoon at Sugar Field. 

With the victory, the Mustangs (4-3) go above .500 and run their winning streak to two after defeating Wesley last Saturday in Virginia by a score of 9-7.

D'Aquanno went 3-6 on the day with a two-run homer and knocked in a game-high four.  Norris added three hits including a double and drove home three.  Sophomore leadoff man Kevin Murray Jr. chipped in two base knocks as well, scoring a run and plating one.  Junior Matthew Kerber scored three runs and drew a walk to go along with two hits.  Seniors Billy Small, Michael Rhodes, and sophomore Mark Terrell joined together for three hits, two RBIs, and a run scored.

The game started out good for Stevenson senior starter Michael Remeikis as he set down the first two Immaculata (0-3) batters he faced on a groundout and a strikeout (looking).  Then with two away Justin Dempsey sent a double to right, and scored when the next hitter Tyler Kmiec sent a single to left.  Richard Fontanillas was the second strikeout victim of the inning and the score was left at 1-0.  The Mustangs looked to have something going in their half of the first as Murray opened things up with a single to right.  Sophomore Brady Kessler flew out to center fielder Greyson Avots for out one.  With D'Aquanno at the dish, Murray stole second and then advanced to third when the senior singled through the left side setting up first and third with just one gone.  Unfortunately, for the home side, the threat came to an end as sophomore Alex Kidwiler lined out to Brad Misialek at short and Kerber grounded to the same spot to retire the side still at 1-0 for the Mighty Macs.

In the second the away side would push another run across.  After Connor Blesi reached on an error by Mustangs shortstop Kessler, the next hitter Cam Delisle laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner 90-feet with one away.  Misialek sent a knock to left center to plate Blesi making it 2-0.  Pat Devenney and Chris Szekeres were put down on a flyout to Murray in center and a pop to Kessler at short to end the frame.  The bottom of the inning started out with Norris ripping a double to left field, but then the next three batters were put away in order one a strikeout and two grounders. 

Remeikis settled down in the third after a tough start as he got Avots on a grounder to D'Aquanno and Dempsey to foul out to the same spot for the first two outs.  Kmiec doubled before Fontanillas popped to Kessler to end the top-half of the frame.  In the bottom half, Stevenson would make it to the scoreboard and take the lead.  With one gone Kessler drew a free pass from Mighty Macs starter Timothy Newell.  Next, D'Aquanno came to hit and he sent the offering from Newell up and out to deep left center to level the score 2-2 still with just one out.  Kidwiler grounded to short for out number two.  Kerber followed in the batter's box and bounced a base hit through the left side.  He then stole second and took third on a throwing error by the catcher Kmiec.  Norris went through the left side as well allowing Kerber to cross giving the Mustangs a 3-2 edge before Small was put away on a line drive to right.

The top of the fourth saw one man reach third base after Blesi singled to lead things off, he went to second on a sac bunt by Delisle.  From there Misialek lined to second and Devenney flew to left to retire the side.  Stevenson extended their advantage in the bottom half when senior Jake Dimon started the rally with a double down the right-field line which spelled the end of the day for Newell as he was replaced by Collin Stringham.  His outing opened up rough as Rhodes picked up a bunt single that moved the runner all the way to third.  Murray was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no one out.  The next batter Kessler was plunked by Stringham as well scoring Dimon.  He was followed by D'Aquanno who plated two more with a single to straightaway centerfield upping the lead to 6-2.  With one gone Kerber was issued a walk to once again fill the bases.  Stringham was relieved by Gabe Hollenbach who was greeted with a Norris single to right scoring D'Aquanno and Kessler.  Small the doubled deep down the right-field line to plate two more making it 9-2.  The outburst of offense ended with a Dimon groundout and a Rhodes K.  When all was said and done the Mustangs sent ten men to the plate scoring seven times and smacking five hits. 

While Stevenson could not do much offensively in the fifth, sixth, and seventh Immaculata was plenty busy as they were on the comeback trail.  Beginning in the fifth they would get back to within three scoring four times.  With the bases full and just one out, Fontanillas singled to left knocking home Szekeres and Dempsey.  After Blesi fouled out to first Delisle scored Kmiec from second with a hit to left.  Misialek followed with a walk to load the bags full of Mighty Macs.  Devenney was next to the dish and he grabbed an RBI off an infield hit that deflected off the glove of a diving Kerber at second.  That spelled the end of the day for Remeikis as freshman reliever Michael Smell got the final out on a fielder's choice, but the score was down to 9-6.  In the sixth, the visitors cut the deficit to one against Smell.  After Avots walked to leadoff, Dempsey lined out to right putting one on and one out.  Kmiec doubled to right setting up second and third for Fontanillas.  He grounded out to D'Aquanno at third but was able to plate Avots.  With two on Smell would be replaced by junior CJ Kilpatrick who attempted to pick Kmiec off at third sailed his throw over D'Aquanno letting the runner come home.  He then recovered by inducing a grounder from Delisle to end the frame.  Unfortunately, for the Mustangs an RBI single by Dempsey and a sac fly from Kmiec plated two in the top of the seventh making it 10-9 Immaculata heading to the stretch.

With the score still 10-9 going to the bottom of the eight D'Aquanno and Kidwiler were set down to start the inning.  Norris was then issued a free pass.  Then, sophomore Mark Terrell ripped a single up the middle letting Kerber come across which drew Ryan Blough out of the bullpen who came in and hit Dimon to load them up with two down.  Junior Connor Wasilnak was hit by Blough and the next hitter Murray walked letting two more in giving the Mustangs 12-10 edge.  Greg Grandelli was drafted out of the pen to get the final out, but it took a little as he immediately handed out a walk to Kessler scoring Dimon making it 14-10.  He then got the last out when he fanned D'Aquanno. 

In the ninth, senior Eric Prachniak was brought in to close things down and he did just that as the Mighty Macs went down one-two-three in the frame to end the game.

Remeikis lasted 4.2 giving up nine hits, six runs (five earned), and struck out two.  Junior Mike Elia (1-0) grabbed the win in relief going one inning and getting a strikeout.  The group of Smell, Kilpatrick, and Prachniak went 3.1 surrendering four runs, three hits, and striking out one.

Stevenson is back in action on Friday, March, 2 when they continue non-conference play with a visit from Frostburg State University at Sugar Field.  First pitch against the Bobcats is set for 2:30pm.