ASTON, PA. -- The Gwynedd Mercy University Baseball team dropped the opening game of their three game series with Neumann University on Friday, 4-3. The Griffins, who totaled 11 hits on the day with David Blount, Dave Tatoian, Beau Fleming and Justin Curtin all collecting a pair of hits, cut a three-run deficit with two runs in the eighth.

The Knights jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.  Cody MacNair knocked in the game's first run and Jonathan DelValle drove in two with a two-run single two batters later.

The Griffins would cut the lead to 3-1 in the fourth.  Blount led off the inning with a single and take second base on a steal. He would then advance to third on a Tatoian single and score on a Fleming fielder's choice.

In the sixth, GMercyU had runners on the corners with one out, but the Knights escaped with an inning-ending double play.

Neumann would plate a run in the seventh for a 4-1 lead with another MacNair RBI. The Griffins would respond with a pair of runs in the top of the 8th. Blount led off the frame with a walk and score all the way from first on a Tatoian RBI double.  Fleming would follow Tatoian with a single while Tommy Nardini would score Tatoian from third reaching on a fielder's choice.

In the ninth, the Griffins would have a runner in scoring position but were unable to bring the run in.

Kristian DeLuzio picked up the win for the Knights on the mound while Frank Chubb suffered the loss working seven innings and striking out five.

The Griffins and Knights will meet again on Sunday in a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. at Gwynedd Mercy. Saturday's doubleheader is postponed due to inclement weather in the forecast.