UNION, N.J. -- An unearned run in the bottom of the eighth was the difference in a close 6-5 defeat at nationally-ranked Kean on Sunday afternoon.

The Griffins trailed 5-4 but used a run in the sixth, courtesy of a two-out RBI single from Jack Jamison to knot things up. The Cougars used a one-out error in that eighth to come around and score to take a one-run lead.

Gwynedd threatened in the top of the ninth, getting back-to-back singles from Billy Collins and Will Brownlowe to put two on with one out. Kean's Colin Kiernan, who entered the game to start the inning, induced a double play to end the game.

Collins, Brownlowe and Jake Martell each collected two hits. Nate Campbell scored twice while Bobby Heck walked twice and scored a run.

Brownlowe's RBI single in the first got GMercyU on the board first but Kean answered with a run of their own in their first at-bat. The Cougars used two hits, two Griffin errors and a walk to cross three runs in the second, but the Griffins countered with a three-spot in the top of the third. Brownlowe's RBI sac fly with the bases full preceded RBI singles from Jake Morello and Martell.

After Gwynedd tied things up at 5-5, reliever Nick Price got out of big jam in the seventh, getting an inning-ending bases-loaded double play to keep things tied.

Price went four innings in relief of starter R.J. Boyle. Boyle fanned three in his three innings of work with one walk and four earned runs on seven hits. Price yielded just one hit with one walk and two K's in his first appearance of the season. Liam Sullivan, who began the eighth, suffered the hard luck loss.

Brandon Johannessen was 2-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored for the Cougars.

The Griffins resume action next weekend when they head to Washington, D.C. for the Gallaudet University Bison Classic. On Friday, GMercyU squares off with Stevenson before a pair of games on Saturday against Muhlenberg and the host Bison.

Photo courtesy of Geanine Jamison Photography
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