GREENSBORO, N.C. – Patrick Boulware belted a two-run homer in the top of the seventh and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam later in the inning to save Immaculata University's 12-11 baseball win at Guilford College Wednesday. Boulware, who also homered earlier in the game, helped the Mighty Macs (1-2) split the doubleheader as Guilford (4-10) rallied to win the opener, 9-8.
Boulware, who spent the day's first 16 innings behind the plate, helped Immaculata overcome an 8-5 deficit after three innings. He hit a solo homer in the fourth and doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth that gave the Mighty Macs a 9-8 lead.
D.J. Phillips delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth to restore a 10-9 Guilford advantage. The Quakers sent senior Sammy Stuart (2-3) to the hill in the seventh after he won the opener in relief, but the Mighty Macs tied it on Aaron Haas's one-out RBI single. Haas stole second and moved to third on Joe DiGiaimo's ground out before Boulware belted his second homer of the game for a 12-10 Mighty Macs' lead.
The Quakers loaded up the bases against Boulware with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Boulware fanned Travis Starbuck for the inning's second out, but uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Forrest Steed to score from third. Boulware got pinch-hitter Will Byrd to ground out to end the game.
Matthew Hardy had three hits and two steals for Immaculata, which had 12 hits and eight stolen bases in the game. Kevin Bertholf, who had three steals, also had three hits. Joe Rawlings was 2-3 with a double and a two-out, two-run homer in the third. Game-one loser Joe Caria (1-1) earned the win after inducing a bases-loaded popup from Guilford's hitting leader, Kyle Wooden.
Guilford's Starbuck had a season-high three hits, including a double. Phillips was 2-3 in the nightcap with three RBI.
The Quakers' Will Cornelius (Summerfield, N.C./Northwest Guilford) hit a walkoff, RBI double in the bottom of the eighth of Guilford's 9-8 comeback win in the opener. His two-out, two-run triple in the sixth completed Guilford's rally from a 7-4 fourth-inning deficit and tied the game at 8-8.
The Quakers took a 4-0 lead thanks to four third-inning runs, two off a Steed single. The Mighty Macs responded with seven runs in the top of the fourth, chasing Guilford starter Alex Pecevich after the senior fanned a career-high six through the first three innings. DiGiaimo and Hardy hit two-run singles in the frame, which featured two Guilford errors, walks and hit batsmen.
Cornelius finished with four RBI in the game. Teammate Jay Cox was 3-5 with a double and two runs scored. Stuart earned the win in relief with three scoreless and hitless innings.
Hardy was 2-4 with two RBI for Immaculata in game one.
Guilford visits Old Dominion Athletic Conference rival Emory & Henry College Saturday (3/5) for a doubleheader.