true 1 | true 2 Gwynedd-Mercy 3, Immaculata 2
Gwynedd-Mercy 4, Immaculata 3

BOX SCORE Game 1 | BOX SCORE Game 2

IMMACULATA, PA. – Gwynedd-Mercy swept Immaculata in two tight contests on Saturday in a Colonial States Athletic Conference Doubleheader to take the weekend set. Game one saw the Griffins score a run in the top of the seventh to go on and win, 3-2. In game two, GM held on for a 4-3 victory and extend their win streak to eight games.

Freshman Ryan Downs (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) singled home sophomore Dante Cassano (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie.

Runs were at a premium as the Griffins (17-14, 6-6 CSAC) had just six hits off of IU starter Bryan McHale, who walked one and struck out 11. GM did get to him early, as Shane Lynch (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) doubled home Kevin Smeraglio (Newtown, Pa./Holy Ghost) in the first. Lynch would steal third and later score on an infield hit from Cassano for a 2-0 lead.

GM starter Andrew Schaefer (Penndel, Pa./Conwell-Egan) was just as impressive, yielding two runs (one earned) on five hits, with one walk and four K's as the sophomore cruised early, allowing just two baserunners in the first three innings.

An RBI sac fly in the fourth from T.J. Warner cut the lead in half followed by an RBI single knotted the game at 2-2.

Cassano lead-off the triple in the seventh set the stage for Downs, who doubled to right center.

Senior Andrew Sinon (Levittown, Pa./Conwell-Egan) came on in the seventh to nail down the save.

In game two, freshman Rick Elfreth (Sicklerville, N.J./St. Augustine) scattered eight hits with just two earned runs with five strikeouts and two walks as the Griffins again jumped ahead early and hung on for the win.

Cassano was the catalyst again, having a hand in all four runs, going 2-for-3 with a three-run home run in the first. After IU crossed a run on a Joe Knazek RBI single in the second, his double in the fourth with one on, put runners on second and third to set up Downs, who delivered an RBI sac fly for a 4-1 lead.

Immaculata (12-15, 5-7 CSAC) would score a run off an error in the fourth. In the sixth, Elfreth got out of tight spot with the bases full and one out. After a run had scored to cut it to a one-run game, Elfreth caught a soft pop off the mound was able to fire to third to complete the double play and escape any further damage.

Elfreth pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to help sweep the twinbill.

Smeraglio was 1-for-3 with a run scored, stolen base, and walk.

Gwynedd-Mercy plays at Widener in non-league action Tuesday in a 3:30 p.m. start.