Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (6/4/2025) – An April-13, 5-4 win over Centenary University (N.J.) and an April-25 sweep of the defending Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Champions  Immaculata University (W, 2-1/W, 9-8) accounted for Gwynedd Mercy University's conference success, but failed to qualify them for the 2025 AEC Baseball Championship Tournament. At 13-25 overall and 3-12 in league play, three Griffins garnered All-AEC recognition as First Team honors for senior pitcher/outfielder Cooper Root (Runnemede, N.J.) and junior infielder Jimmy DeCarlo (Ridley Park, Pa.) were complemented by a Second Team laurel for sophomore pitcher Michael Inglisa (Delran, N.J.). Root went on to earn his second D3Baseball.com All-Region V selection with a Third Team honor at the utility position.       
 
The 2024-2025 Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year, Root concluded a brilliant collegiate career with another impressive two-way season. He totaled 21 runs and 31 runs-batted-in (RBI) with a .331 (42-for-127)/.443/.362 slash line. His 26 walks ranked third in the AEC. Meanwhile, on the mound, Root sported a 0-3 record with a 4.71 earned run average (ERA) over 57.1 innings (9app-9gs). He struck out 31 and held his opponents to a .313 batting average (BAA).
 
DeCarlo led Gwynedd Mercy University in nearly every single offensive statistic while ranking among the AEC Top-10 in at-bats (10^th, 141) and doubles (T6^th, 11). He totaled 21 runs and 31 RBI on a .338 (49-for-145)/.401/.434 slash line.
 
Inglisa sported the league's best earned run average (ERA) with a 2.92; he allowed 12 earned runs on 32 hits, 19 walks, and eight hit batsmen over 37.0 innings pitched. He went 3-5 with three saves; the latter tied for the league lead. Inglisa also struck out 29 on a .242 BAA.
 
Poor weather conditions delayed the start of the 2025 season to a February-22 doubleheader versus Penn State Berks (L, 9-10/W, 7-1). Gwynedd Mercy University wasted no time showcasing their offensive abilities as two-run doubles from DeCarlo and freshman infielder Ryan Horner (Cinnaminson, N.J.), and an infield single from freshman infielder Deven Ross (Lansdale, Pa.) plated five Griffins in their first at-bat of the season. Behind Root, the Red and Gold built 9-3 lead through the first five innings of the contest. Unfortunately, unanswered Nittany Lion runs in the seventh (9-5), eighth (9-9), and ninth innings handed the visitors a 10-9 victory in game one. In game two, freshman pitcher Brayden Scott (Gilbert, Ariz.) was lights out in his first collegiate career start; he struck out seven in 7.1 innings and allowed only one earned run on four hits and two walks. The performance earned Scott a spot on the AEC Baseball Weekly Honor Roll (Feb. 24), where he was joined by Horner. The Griffin third baseman, went 4-for-6 with a walk, two stolen bases, and five RBI in the doubleheader.
 
The Red and Gold lineup stayed hot during the second week of competition as Gwynedd Mercy University preceded losses to Rutgers-Camden (L, 2-14 (8) on Feb. 25) and Hobart College (L, 2-8 (11) on Mar. 1) with victories over Delaware Valley University (W, 23-7 (7) on Feb. 24) and Penn State Abington (W, 9-6 on Feb. 28). Horner and Scott were once again the top contributors with the former garnering the AEC Baseball Player of the Week (Mar. 3) title and the latter earning a second straight appearance on the Weekly Honor Roll. Horner was 7-for-12 (.583) with a walk, a stolen base, four runs, and three RBI, while the latter took no decision against the Nittany Lions; he struck out six over 7.0 innings of work, while allowing just earned run on eight hits. Also of note; freshman catcher Gabe Tomei (Manahawkin, N.J.) made history against the Aggies as he hit for the first cycle in Gwynedd Mercy University history with a 4-for-5 performance that included a two-run home run in the first inning, a single in the second, a two-run triple in the third, and a RBI-double in the sixth. He also reached on a fielder's choice in the fourth inning and walked in the fifth.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University then hosted Muhlenberg College (L, 6-9 (8)) for a March-4 contest before shipping out for their annual spring trip to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. There, the Griffins enjoyed a 2-5 stay with wins over Fitchburg State College (W, 8-3 on Mar. 7) and Bethany College (W, 19-8 (7) on Mar. 11). DeCarlo and freshman pitcher Chase Hamilton (Philadelphia, Pa.) garnered AEC Baseball Weekly Honor Roll (Mar. 18) recognition for their play at the invitational. The former was one of the hottest Griffins during the spring trip as he went 8-for-19 with a walk, four runs, and seven RBI over the last four games. Meanwhile, the latter made two solid relief appearances and held Gwynedd Mercy University's opponents to just two hits and three walks while striking out five over 5.0 innings.
 
Happy to return home, the Red and Gold collected three wins in three days; a stretch that opened with home victories over Rosemont College (W, 10-5 on Mar. 19) and Notre Dame of Maryland University (W, 14-0 (7) on Mar. 20), and concluded with a March-21, 6-4 triumph over #21 Gettysburg College. With some clutch at-bats and 15 total hits Gwynedd Mercy University, the Griffins defeated the Bullets 6-4 and handed them their first loss this season. Scott held the Bullets to three runs on seven hits and two walks, before handing the ball to Inglisa for the final three innings. The performance earned the former his third win of the season and his third appearance on the AEC Baseball Weekly Honor Roll (Mar. 24). He was joined on the report by Horner, who earned his second AEC Baseball Player of the Week title with a 6-for-13 week that produced three runs and six RBI.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University's challenging schedule pinned them against #8 Salisbury University (L, 4-15 on Mar. 25), before starting AEC play with a three-game series versus the eventual league champions, Marymount University. The Griffins lost all three contests to the Saints (L, 4-30 (7) on Mar. 28 and L, 4-9/L, 0-10 (7) on Mar. 29) but saw Root garner his only appearance on the AEC Baseball Weekly Report (Mar. 31). He garnered a spot on the Weekly Honor Roll as he went 3-for-5 against the Sea Gulls, and made his only hit against the Saints (1-for-8) count as his second-inning triple cleared the bases in the Friday-night affair. He also pitched five innings in the finale with Marymount University; Root held the Saints to seven earned runs on nine hits and four walks, while striking out three.
 
Despite a spell of inclement weather, April began with a 7-4 win over Mount Saint Mary College (N.Y.) (Apr. 1) and a three-game series with Neumann University (L, 2-5 on Apr. 4/L, 1-5 on Apr. 9/L, 1-7 on Apr. 10). The Griffins rebounded from three losses to the Knights with an April-13 split against Centenary University (N.J.) (L, 2-21/W, 5-4). Root and sophomore pitcher Patrick Talley (Collingswood, N.J.) garnered AEC Baseball Weekly Honor Roll appearances on the league's April-7 report, while DeCarlo achieved the same on the April-14 report. Root  recorded the 100^th hit of his collegiate career as part of a 4-for-5 performance against MSMC, while Talley earned his third win (3-1) of the season with an impressive four-inning relief appearance (4.0IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 1BB, 6K). DeCarlo went 7-for-13 (.538) with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, a run, and two RBI in four games against the Griffins' league rivals.
 
Tying up loose ends, Gwynedd Mercy University completed their set with the Cyclones (L, 3-4 on Apr. 14) and suffered additional losses to Stockton University (L, 4-13 on Apr. 15), Cairn University (L, 5-7 on Apr. 17), and #4 Kean University (L, 3-13 on Apr. 22), before celebrating a 3-0 run versus Penn State Abington (W, 6-3 on Apr. 23) and Immaculata University (W, 2-1/W, 9-8 on Apr. 25). Inglisa and senior outfielder Sam Junker (Ambler, Pa.) were the stars of the 3-1 week versus the Cougars, Nittany Lions, and Mighty Macs. The former garnered the AEC Baseball Pitcher of the Week (Apr. 28) award after holding Immaculata University to an unearned run on three hits and three walks over seven innings, while the latter earned a spot on the Weekly Honor Roll for a 6-for-14 (.429) week that included a five hits (5-for-6; .833) and two RBI performance in the doubleheader with the Mighty Macs.
 
The 2025 season concluded with a 12-0, seven-inning loss to Immaculata University on April 28 and a three-game sweep at the hands of Marywood University (L, 2-3 on May 2 and L, 4-5/L, 5-8 on May 3). Root made history the final start of his collegiate career as the Red and Gold captain allowed one earned run on seven hits and two walks in a complete-game effort that saw him reach 100 career strikeouts with his fifth – and final – strikeout of the contest. He his collegiate career as one of two Griffins all-time to record 100 hits and 100 strikeouts.
 
DeCarlo and Root's All-AEC First Team seasons were complemented by a strong sophomore season from Horner and solid swan songs from Junker and first baseman Ricky Templeton (West Deptford, N.J.). Horner played brilliantly at the hot corner (.904 FLD%; 115 Total Chances) while totaling 19 runs and 20 RBI on a .298 (39-for-131)/.383/.382 slash line. He drew 15 walks, was beaned three times, and stole five bases (5-for-6, .833).
 
Meanwhile, Junker was the Griffins' everyday center fielder; he finished with 24 runs and 24 RBI with a .284 (38-for-134)/.401/.343 slash line. Lastly, Templeton split time at first base and designated hitter, but was a staple in the Griffin lineup as he scored 20 runs and knocked in 15 with a .283 (32-of-113)/.396/.389 slash line.
 
In addition to Inglisa and Root, the Gwynedd Mercy University pitching staff enjoyed a solid debut season from Scott. He finished second on the team in innings pitched (47.0) and went 3-4 with a 25/15 strikeout-to-walk ratio.