GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy erupted for six unanswered runs to rally past Cairn, 8-6, in the first game of the two-game CSAC series on Tuesday to extend their winning streak to six games.
The Griffins, who trailed 6-2 after the third, fought their way back in it, getting runs in the fourth and fifth. They would take the lead in the seventh and add an insurance run in the eighth.
Sachael Sciarretta went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, and RBI, and a walk. Ryan Keen, Dave Tatoian, and Justin Curtin also had two hits apiece to improve GMercyU to 14-11 and 8-3 in conference games.
The Highlanders used a two-run homer in the first and an RBI groundout in the second to put Gwynedd in an early 3-0 deficit.
Curtin helped the Griffins get on the scoreboard in the second with his two-out, two-run double to make it 3-2. Cairn however got those runs back in the third when Alejandro Fernandez drove in two with the bases loaded, but a misplay in center allowed the runner from first to score.
Sciarretta singled in the fourth, and got to third on a groundout and a wild pitch. With two down, Nick Mulvey hit a slow roller to third but the throw sailed high, allowing Sciarretta to score and keep the inning alive. Ryan Keen took advantage of the error as he singled home Mulvey to cut it to 6-4.
Sciarretta doubled home Tommy Nardini with two outs in the fifth to make it a one-run contest.
In the seventh, Sciarretta got things going as he reached on an error and got to third on a bunt single from Curtin to put runners on the corners. Mulvey grounded to short, but not before Sciarretta scored to tie things up at 6-6. The next batter Keen, hit a hard chopper down the first base line that was mishandled and helped Curtin to race home to finally give the Griffins their first lead.
Jared Gorman entered in the fourth for starter Bryan Kaelin and threw four-plus innings of scoreless baseball to pick up his first win on the season. He would retire the side in order in the fourth, fifth, and sixth. In the seventh, Gorman got out of a spot with two on and two outs, getting a grounder to second.
After a lead-off walk in the eighth, Liam Sullivan entered for Gorman and got the Griffins out unscathed. In the bottom half, Bobby Heck led off with a walk and stole a bag to get to second. Mulvey singled through the left side, which was bobbled by the leftfielder, to allow Heck to race home to add to the lead.
Tatoian began the ninth with a lead-off walk, but rallied to get a line out and two grounders to end it and pick up his first career save.
Daniel Morales was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs, and two walks for Cairn (16-11, 5-4 CSAC).
The two teams will meet in Langhorne on Thursday in a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.