GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. – #14 Keystone used a five-run eighth inning to pull away from Gwynedd-Mercy in an 8-4 defeat in the CSAC opener for both squads.

The Griffins (8-8, 0-1 CSAC) trailed 3-0 after three innings but chipped away as junior Shane Lynch (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) had his hand in both runs. He would score from third on a wild pitch with two outs in the fourth. Later in the sixth, his RBI single dropped into right allowing Justin Keith (Littlestown, Pa./Delone Catholic) to hustle home from second to make it a 3-2 ballgame.

The Giants' Andrew Siano delivered the big blow in the eighth, hitting a grand slam as part of a five-run frame.

Gwynedd tried to answer in the ninth as sophomore Dante Cassano (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) doubled in junior Josh Martin (Pottstown, Pa./St. Pius X). Cassano would later score on an error to make it a four-run game. Emmanuel Roman, who entered for starter Zachary Duffy in the ninth, was able to get a groundout and strikeout to end it.

Keith finished 3-for-3 in his first start of the season while Martin added two hits.

Siano went 2-for-5 for Keystone (8-3, 1-0 CSAC). Teammate Miquel Castano added a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Esteban Meletiche chipped in a triple and double.

GM starter Andrew Schaefer (Penndel, Pa./Conwell-Egan) went into the eighth, striking out three, but allowing four walks and three earned runs on 12 hits. Duffy fanned five with two walks, surrendering two runs on five hits.

The two teams will meet tomorrow in a doubleheader in LaPlume starting at noon.