true Hackettstown, N.J. - (4/21/2023) - An Early 7-0 lead gave
Centenary University (NJ) (15-15, 5-5) the edge they needed to defeat Gwynedd Mercy University (14-15, 3-10) by a 17-11 final in the first game of this weekend's Atlantic East Conference (AEC) series. The Griffins chipped away at the early deficit with solo runs in the third and fourth innings, 7-2. A two-run fifth inning narrowed difference to three tallies, 7-4, but the Cyclones scored three in the sixth, 10-4, and seven in the seventh, 17-4, before avoiding a late Gwynedd Mercy University rally.
Griffin Highlights
- A Centenary University error permitted a Gwynedd Mercy University run to score on a third-inning at-bat for senior second baseman Jake Martell (Levittown, Pa.) (7-1).
- In the fourth inning, another Cyclone error allowed junior first baseman Frank Ebling (Cherry Hill, N.J.) to score on an single down the left field line from senior third baseman Noah Andress (Levittown, Pa.) (7-2).
- Singles from sophomore left fielder Cooper Root (Runnemede, N.J.) and graduate designated hitter Billy Collins (Hatfield, Pa.) brought in two runs in the Griffin half of the fifth inning (7-4).
- Gwynedd Mercy University's late rally started in the seventh inning with three runs on a single from senior catcher Nick Price (Levittown, Pa.) and bases-loaded "free-passes" to Andress and graduate shortstop Rob Bailey (Abington, Pa.) (17-7).
- It continued in the eighth inning with a Price sacrifice fly (17-8) and came up short after ninth-inning at-bats from freshman right fielder Sam Junker (Ambler, Pa.) (17-10) and Root (17-11).
- Root was 2-for-6 with three runs and two runs-batted-in (RBI). Junker was 2-for-3 a run and two RBI.
Gwynedd Mercy University concludes their AEC series with Centenary University tomorrow, Saturday, April 22, with a noon (12:00 p.m.) doubleheader.
