ALLENTOWN, PA. -- The Gwynedd Mercy University Softball Team clinched a berth in next week's Colonial States Athletic Conference Tournament by splitting a pair of games on Saturday at Cedar Crest.

The Griffins will be the #6 seed and play at #3 Immaculata on Wednesday in a first-round matchup.

Game One
A big sixth inning was the difference in a 3-2 win as a two-out, two-run double from Marisa Bentley would put GM ahead for good. Coupled with a loss from Centenary, the victory cemented the playoff berth.

The Griffins trailed 2-0 heading into the top of the sixth before a Jenna Trythall single started the rally for the Griffins with one out. Lauren Waller reached via a hit by pitch to put a pair of runners on. Nikki Canfield would cut the lead to 2-1 with an RBI double to score Julie Downs who pinch ran for Trythall. Erin Hallahan would reach on a fielder's choice but the Falcons would cut the potential tying run at the plate for the second out of the inning. That set the stage for Bentley, who delivered a double down the line in right.

Starting pitcher Alexis Gartner earned the win working six strong innings while striking out a pair of Falcons. Alyssa Morales pitched the seventh to lock up the save, working out of a jam. The first batter of the inning would reach on an error and then advance on a passed ball. Morales would then get a strikeout for the first out. The third batter of the inning would single but the Griffins were able to keep the tying run at third. With first and third and one out Morales would induce a pop-up to Waller and a ground-out to herself for the third out and the playoff-clinching win.

Trythall, Canfield and Bentley each recorded a pair of hits in the opener.

Game two
The nightcap saw 14 runs and 23 hits between the teams. Trailing 6-2 heading into the top of the fifth, the Griffins were able to cut the lead to 6-4 thanks to a Canfield two-out two-run homerun. The Falcons would add a run in the home half of the inning to stretch the lead back to 7-4.

Gwynedd would continue to battle, scoring another pair of runs in the sixth with two outs thanks to RBI singles from Jessica Behr and Trythall.

GMercyU was able to bring the tying run to the plate in their last at-bats trailing 8-6, but Cedar Crest was able to spoil the Griffin sweep with a 6-4-3 double play to take game two.

Behr finished the nightcap 4-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Canfield added a pair of hits to finish (4-for-6) on the day with two runs scored and three RBI's.

The Griffins now turn their attention to the playoffs for the fifth-straight year when they travel to Immaculata on Wednesday.