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Gwynedd-Mercy 7, Marywood 1
Gwynedd-Mercy 3, Marywood 0

BOX SCORE Game 1 | BOX SCORE Game 2

GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. – Strong pitching and timely hitting helped Gwynedd-Mercy sweep a CSAC Doubleheader over Marywood on Sunday. The Griffins won the first game, 7-1, and the second, 3-0.

The game was played at Gwynedd-Mercy with the Griffins as the visiting team and the Pacers as the home team. The twinbill was originally scheduled to be played in Scranton this weekend, but weather-related field conditions relocated the game.

In game one, sophomore Matt Rakus (Sewell, N.J./St. Augustine) tossed a one-hitter, allowing an unearned run while striking out five in a 7-1 win. Tied at 1-1 heading into the sixth, the Griffins (9-5, 4-1 CSAC) broke it open with four runs on two hits and an error. GM got the go-ahead run on a sac fly from junior Dante Cassano (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East). Later in the frame, RBI singles from Rick Elfreth (Washington Twp., N.J./St. Augustine) and Jordano Rodriguez (Philadelphia, Pa./Mariana Bracetti) made it a 4-1 lead. Rodriguez would later score from second on a double steal as the throw down to third base sailed into left field.

Elfreth would draw a bases loaded walk in the first to put GM on the board. Rakus (4-0), who didn't allow a baserunner past second in the first four innings, yielded an unearned run in the fifth to tie it at 1-1 as a throwing error at short on a grounder allowed Stephen Gaylets to score with two outs.

Officially, Elfreth was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with a run, RBI, and a stolen base. Carlo Randazzo (Sewell, N.J./St. Augustine) added a two-run single in the seventh for some insurance runs.

The Pacer's Russell Baldino took the loss in game one, throwing into the sixth, allowing three runs on four hits. He left the game after Cassano's sac fly.

Elfreth did it with is arm in game two, tossing six scoreless innings while fanning seven on just five hits for his first win of the year and Gwynedd made a three-run first inning stand up to complete the sweep.

The Griffins struck early again, getting their first two hitters on. Senior Josh Martin (Pottstown, Pa./St. Pius X)  would beat out a liner off Marywood pitcher Michael Ciavarella's foot for an RBI single. Cassano then drove Martin and John Burns (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) home with his single to right.

In the fifth, the Pacers got runners on with one out, but Elfreth ended the threat with a strikeout and fly out.

Freshman Andrew Hill (Christiana, Pa./Octorara) came on in the seventh to nail down his third save of the season.

Ciavarella struck out four but allowed three runs on six hits in five and a third innings of work. Mike Diskin had two of the six hits for the Pacers (3-9, 0-4 CSAC).

Gwynedd-Mercy will play at Penn State-Abington on Tuesday in the first of three games next week. On Thursday, the Griffins welcome nationally-ranked Rowan then visit New Jersey City on Friday in their final games before the Easter Break.