WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gwynedd Mercy dropped a 9-3 decision at Marymount in Atlantic East Conference action on Thursday in the first game of their weekend series.

The two teams will meet on Saturday in Gwynedd Valley for a conference doubleheader starting at noon.

The Griffins were locked in a one-run game but the Saints used runs in the seventh and eighth to open up an advantage.

Shaun Thomas drove in a pair of runs while Noah Andress walked three times, officially going 1-for-1.

Thomas hit a sac fly in the second for a 1-0 lead, however, Marymount countered with a four-spot in the third. GMercyU chipped away, crossing a run in the fourth on Thomas' second RBI and in the fifth courtesy of a RBI groundout from Jake Martell.

Gwynedd continued to threaten, getting two on in the sixth and later a runner to third in the seventh, but were unable to tie the game.

A two-run double in the seventh preceded a three-run eighth, where a lead-off error led to three unearned runs in the frame.

Mitchell Bramsway scattered four runs on just three hits over five innings of work. Giovanni D'Amore fanned four in his two innings in relief.

Alex Lemery doubled twice to finish with five RBI's on the day for the home team.