GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy handed Neumann its first CSAC defeat as the Griffins and Knights split a conference doubleheader on Monday. GMercyU would force extra innings in game one but would eventually fall, 9-6, in nine innings. In game two, Gwynedd (24-8, 15-3 CSAC) got out to a big lead to hold off the Knights, 11-8.

Jessica Behr had four RBI's, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored in game two. Alyssa Morales, Nikki Canfield, and Kim Machalette also had three hits apiece. Canfield added a double while Morales would leg out a triple.

Behr had the first of her four RBI's in the first as she singled home Christoffers for a 1-0 lead. Gwynedd would plate three more for a 4-0 advantage after their first at-bat. The team struck for another four-spot in the second as Behr's two-run single with the bases loaded followed by Canfield's two-run double helped stretch the lead to 8-1.

The Knights (20-12, 17-1 CSAC) would get those four runs back in the third on five hits and add another run in the fourth to cut the lead to 8-5. Machalette would drive a run home in the bottom half and in the fifth, Morales tripled home Christoffers. Behr added her four run driven in as her shot to left sliced down the line to easily plate Morales and Gwynedd opened the lead back up to 11-6.

After a run crossed for the Knights in the sixth, Machalette found herself with the bases loaded and just one out. Morales would come on to relieve Machalette and get a pop up and grounder to get out of the jam. A solo homer from Danielle Grayson to lead off the seventh made it a three-run contest, but Morales worked two popups and a strikeout to end it and pick up the save.

Christoffers and Morales each scored three runs.

In game one, the Griffins would score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie it at 6-6 and force extra innings. Behr would reach on a lead-off single and later score on a RBI double from Canfield to cut the deficit to one. Now with two outs, Tara Matteo tried to bunt her way on, but the throw from Neumann pitcher Lauren Wilkie was wide and went out of play to enable Canfield to score from second.

After a 1-2-3 eighth, the Griffins thought they had it won in the bottom half of the frame. Christoffers would reach on a one-out walk, before Morales sent a drive to the gap in right center to seemingly plate the winning run. However, Morales was out of the batter's box and ruled out, nullifying the walk-off win.

Neumann would touch up Machalette, who relieved Morales in the sixth, for three runs in the top of the ninth. With runners at second and third, Julia Cox sent a ball under the glove of Amanda Wortham at third and by Christoffers at short into left field for the go-ahead run. Jackie Schneider would add to the lead with a two-run single for the three-run lead.

The Knights would take a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single from Mary Cotton. GMercyU answered in the bottom half as Canfield drove in a pair with her hit to left.

A sac fly in the third knotted things up a 2-2 before the Griffins plated a pair on the bottom half. Behr would reach on a one-out double. A potential sacrifice from MaryKate Ballerino was thrown out of play to allow Behr to score. Ballerino would move up to second and later to third after a groundout. Machalette drove one to right to make it a 4-2 game. Gwynedd would eventually load the bases but Wilkie was able to get the Knights out of the inning with a strikeout.

Neumann would score three unearned runs in the fifth, taking advantage of a two-out error to keep the at-bat alive. Melissa Rozumalski's two-run double helped put the Knights up, 5-4.

An error in the sixth led to another Neumann run and put the Griffins down 8-6 before the rally in the seventh.

Wilkie fanned seven for the Knights on eight hits and three earned runs. Morales gave up two earned runs on 11 hits with two K's and three walks as she pitched into the sixth.

Canfield would finish 2-fo-5 with three RBI's and a run scored. Behr also was 2-for-5 and would score twice.

The Griffins conclude the regular season this week when they host Cedar Crest on Friday and play at Immaculata on Saturday.