SALISBURY, MD. -- Gwynedd Mercy kicked off its 2017 season at 24th-ranked Salisbury, but the Griffins fell 20-12, to the Sea Gulls on Saturday in the first game for both teams on the year.

Dave Tatoian picked up off his freshman season, going 4-for-5 and adding four RBI's, all career highs. He cranked a three-run home run and added a double on the day. Shaughn Wright, Jason Mulvey, and Justin Curtin each had three hits apiece as the Griffins totaled 19 hits.

After Wright and Tommy Nardini knocked in a run each in the top of the first for a quick 2-0 lead, Salisbury countered with eight runs on six hits and an error in the bottom half. Tatoian would drive in Mulvey and Bobby Heck in the second and Heck would bring home two more with a single to right in the third to chip away at the Sea Gull lead.

Salisbury would use another eight-run frame, this time in the fourth with a Tom LaBriola three-run home run in the at-bat.

RBI singles from Jaycee Orta and Ryan Keen in the sixth preceded a four spot in the seventh highlighted by Tatoian's three-run homer.

LaBriola was 3-for-4 while teammate Justin Meekins was 4-for-5 with five RBIs for Salisbury.

Gwynedd Mercy will head to Kean next Saturday for a showdown vs. the Cougars in a 1 p.m. start.