GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- The Gwynedd Mercy Softball Team opened up Atlantic East Conference play against Cabrini but were handed a pair defeats in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. The Cavaliers scored late runs to take the first game, 5-4, and then held off the Griffins in a 3-1 decision in game two.

Game one
Gwynedd erased an early 2-0 deficit with two runs of their own in the second. Later in the fourth, a huge two-run, two-out double from Jocelyn Baumeister put the home team up 4-2.

After Cabrini cut the lead in half with a run in the fifth, they took advantage of a two-out error in the sixth to help plate an unearned run to knot things up at 4-4. In the top of the seventh, the Cavs took the lead thanks to an RBI single, scoring another unearned run.

Ashley Focht collected two of the team's six hits while Emily Shaheen walked twice with an RBI and a run scored.

Starter Maddy McBride went the distance, scattering 10 hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

Cabrini's Grace Stairiker gave up four runs on six hits with four walks, but did not allow a baserunner over the final three innings.

Game two
Baumeister started in the circle in the second game, yielding one earned run over eight hits, two walks, and three K's. At the plate, Shaheen and Baumeiester each walked twice as the squad totaled seven base on balls but the team was limited to three hits.

The Cavaliers put up a three-spot in the first, getting a two-run single from Kaitlyn Martin as part of the mix. Gwynedd looked to answer in the bottom half, getting runners on first and second with one out, but Emma Carney's liner was snagged at first base causing the runner to be doubled up to end the threat.

In the second, Shylynn Cordero infield single with two outs plated Hannah McLaughlin to get the team on the board.

Later in the fifth, Gwynedd threatened with runners on the corners with two outs, but Cabrini starter Avery Byrnes got a strikeout to end the inning.

Martin was 3-for-4 while Byrnes allowed one run on three hits, with six K's and seven walks for the Cavaliers.

The two teams meet tomorrow in Radnor to finish their weekend series. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for noon.