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Gwynedd Mercy 9, Anna Maria 0

Gwynedd Mercy 8, John Jay 5

Gwynedd Mercy 5, John Jay 3

Grove City 6, Gwynedd Mercy 0


BOX SCORE vs. Anna Maria | BOX SCORE vs. John Jay | BOX SCORE vs. John Jay | BOX SCORE vs. Grove City


NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Gwynedd Mercy is off to a good start in their trip to South Carolina in the Fast Pitch Dreams Classic, going 3-1 in their first two days.

On Sunday, the Griffins kicked off their 2015 season with a 9-0 win over Anna Maria and then followed that up with an 8-5 victory over John Jay. Monday saw Gwynedd and John Jay go at it again, with GM taking a 5-3 win, but the Griffins would suffer a 6-0 defeat to Grove City.

Against Anna Maria, freshman Amanda Hesson (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI's. Junior MaryKate Ballerino (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) drove in three runs as the Griffins used a seven-run second inning to get an early lead. Junior Megan Kelly (Ivyland, Pa./Little Flower) had two hits and scored three runs.

Hesson and freshman Tara Matteo (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) had a pair of two-run singles in that second inning. Senior Jennifer Whalen (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) allowed just two hits and struck out six in four innings.

Sunday's other game saw Whalen got 3-for-4 with three RBI's and came back to the mound to help GM get out of a jam in the fifth. Her two-run single was part of a three-run second and the team would build a 4-1 lead after four. But the Bloodhounds answered with a two-out, two-run double in the fifth to cut the lead to one. Whalen entered in for freshman starter Michele Arechavala (Mt. Ephraim, N.J./Aududon), and was able to get the final out of the inning.

Gwynedd was able to open up their lead in the bottom of the frame with another three-spot for a 7-3 edge. Ballerino would score on a sac fly from Hesson in the sixth. John Jay plated two in the top of the seventh, but Whalen ended the game on a called third strike.

Senior Ashley Zavatsky (Philadelphia, Pa./Little Flower) also had three hits, and knocked in two runs.

Monday's rematch with John Jay came down to a two-run fifth that broke a 3-3 tie. Sophomore Nikki Canfield and Hesson drove in a run each to give GM a two-run advantage. Whalen would again enter in relief in the fifth and get the win, allowing just one baserunner the rest of the way. Freshman Jessica Behr (Philadelphia, Pa./MaST Charter) went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple.

The second game of the day against Grove City didn't get off on a good foot, as the Wolverines scored five runs in the first and Gwynedd was held to just five hits in a 6-0 loss. Hesson had two of the five hits.

Gwynedd will return to action on Wednesday with games with Regis and King's before wrapping up play on Thursday with Anna Maria again and Division II West Virginia State.