GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- With a CSAC Doubleheader sweep on Sunday, Gwynedd-Mercy was able to take the weekend series with Immaculata and improve to 11-1 in conference play. The Griffins used a big inning to win game one, 13-5, and rallied in their final at-bat to take game two, 5-4.
In game one, Gwynedd broke open a 5-5 game with an eight-run sixth, scoring all eight runs with two outs. The big blow came from junior Dante Cassano with his bases loaded clearing double to plate three runs.
Freshman Christopher Hens got things started in the second with his two-run double to put GM on the board. After the Mighty Macs evened things with two runs in the third, they used two hits and two errors in the fourth for two more runs. Joe DiGiaimo would triple and score in the fifth to put Gwynedd in a 5-2 deficit.
But the Griffins answered in the bottom of fifth using an RBI groundout and taking advantage of a two-out error at short with the bases loaded to score two runs and it was a 5-5 game.
Starter Andrew Schaefer went five innings scattering eight hits with five runs (two earned) with three strikeouts and two walks in a no decision. Freshman Andrew Hill picked up the win, tossing two scoreless innings.
Cassano finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Rick Elfreth was 2-for-2 with an RBI double.
DiGiaimo and Elijah Vottero each went 3-for-4 with a run scored for IU.
Game two saw the Griffins (18-10) score three runs in the bottom of the seventh, the last two coming on an error with the bases loaded to win it and complete the sweep.
In the seventh, a sac fly from Kurt Taylor pulled GM within one. Then followed a single and walk to load the bases. Sophomore Greg Brooks, who battled through a long-at bat, fouling off six pitches with two strikes, hit a ball to second that looked to be a double play. However Vottero mishandled it allowing one run to score. Freshman David Blount, who was on second, kept going at third and was able to beat the throw home sending the Griffin bench onto the field.
Taylor added an RBI triple in the third. Eric Heaney had two hits, one a triple, and scored twice.
IU's Matt Hardy was a home run shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Junior Trevor Sotell, who came on in the sixth to get the final out, earned the win in relief. Elfreth started and went five innings, fanning four while allowing one earned run on six hits.
Aaron Dietrich struck six as he went into the seventh for Immaculata (11-15, 4-9 CSAC).
The Griffins return to action tomorrow with a non-league game at Swarthmore.