IMMACULATA, PA. -- The Gwynedd Mercy University Baseball team suffered their first Colonial States Athletic Conference defeat, falling, 8-6, at Immaculata on Tuesday afternoon.

Ryan Keen went 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of runs scored while Josh Lopez, Tommy Nardini and Dave Tatoian each collected a pair of runs batted in. Tatoian also homered.

The Griffins (8-9, 2-1 CSAC) jumped ahead early in the first when Keen tripled with one out and came home on a sacrifice fly from Tatoian. Immaculata answered in the home half of the third inning when Tyler Kmiec connected for an RBI double and later score on an errant pick-off attempt to take a 2-1 lead after three full innings of play.

The Mighty Macs would add four more in the fifth and insurance runs in each the sixth and seventh innings for a 8-1 lead after seven full.

Gwynedd looked to start their own rally in the top of the eighth when Tatoian led off the inning with a solo shot for his second on the season and 13th of his career. The Griffins would then load the bases on back-to-back singles from Shaughn Wright and Nick Mulvey and a walk by Lopez. Nardini would follow with a a big two-run single to cut it to 8-4. GMercyU would load the bases again but Immaculata was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout and inning-ending double play.

In the top of the ninth, the Griffins gave it one last push as Keen sparked a late rally with a double to lead off the inning followed by a Tatoian walk. Immaculata closer Zach Smiley would however induce to fly outs to put the Griffins to their last out. Lopez would then drive in both runners with a to plate both runners to cut the lead to 8-6. Nardini would draw a walk and Bobby Heck would reach getting hit by a pitch to load the bases again with two down. Smiley would record the final out, getting a grounder to take the opening game of the two-game series.

Brad Misialek had three hits and knocked in a pair of runs for Immaculata (7-12, 2-1 CSAC).

Both teams return back to action on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in Gwynedd Valley for the Griffins official home opener.