GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – Immaculata University's baseball squad lost the opener of a three-game series to Colonial States Athletic Conference foe Gwynedd-Mercy College on Friday afternoon, 7-5.
Immaculata's record falls to 10-15 overall and 4-6 in the CSAC, while Gwynedd-Mercy improves to 15-10 overall and 9-4 in the league.
Immaculata held the lead (5-3) until the bottom of the seventh inning when Gwynedd-Mercy scored four runs to go ahead, 7-5.
The Mighty Macs scored two runs in the top of the first as their first two batters (Rick Gehman and Patrick Boulware) each reached base and came around to score.
Immaculata extended its lead to 5-0 in the top half of the third after scoring three more runs. Gehman and Matt Hardy each singled, and Brandon Seibert walked to load the bases. Gehman scored as he stole home, and both runners advanced. David News then hit a two-RBI triple to left center, scoring both Hardy and Seibert.
The Griffins finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth as Mike Albert hit a two-run homerun. Gwynedd-Mercy scored one more run in the fifth, cutting the Immaculata lead to 5-3.
Boulware and Hardy each went 2-for-5 at the plate, and News was 2-for-4.
Aaron Dietrich started the contest for Immaculata and went 6.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on seven hits. He was relieved in the seventh inning by his brother Andrew Dietrich, who took the loss after giving up two runs. Ernell Harley closed out the final 1.2 innings, only allowing one hit.
Andrew Sinon started and went the first three innings fore the Griffins, allowing three earned runs on four hits. James Myarick came on and pitched the middle five innings for the win, holding Immaculata scoreless on five hits. Tom Weiss pitched the ninth to preserve the Griffins' win and earn a save.
Immaculata concludes its series with Gwynedd-Mercy Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.