Pacers End Drought against GMU, Sweep Griffins in Twinbill
Catcher Tommy Smith was 4-for-7 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored Saturday

Pacers End Drought against GMU, Sweep Griffins in Twinbill

Baseball - 4/11/2015 5:28:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Scranton, PA - Host Marywood University had to rally once in each game but in the end the Pacers swept visiting Gwynedd Mercy University to end a eight game slide against the Griffins and come out with two key Colonial States Athletic Conference wins Saturday afternoon in Scranton. Marywood (13-5, 6-3 CSAC) beat Gwynedd Mercy 9-4 and 3-2.

The opening game win was Marywood's first over GMU since the Pacers beat the Griffins 4-0 in the opening game of a twinbill on April 8, 2012. Joseph DiLoreto fell behind early but shut down the Griffins over the final four innings to get his third win of the year. DiLoreto (3-1) struck out three over seven full innings of work to get the complete-game win.

The Griffins jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the first two innings, which included a two homer second, but the Pacers got one back in the bottom of the second on a RBI single from Alan Nieto. GMU answered right back, and took a 4-1 lead on a RBI single in the top of the third.

Held scoreless over their next two at-bats, Marywood rallied in the fifth. The Pacers got RBIs from Vince Rebar, Thomas Richards and took advantage of three GMU miscues in the inning to plate four runs and claim a 5-4 lead.

Not done there, the Pacers added four insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the opener away.

The first inning of the second game defensively was almost as exciting as the finish, however, as the Pacers' defense ended an early threat with a tremendous 1-5-2, 2-4 double play. With a runner on third, starter Justin Haddix took a come-backer to the mound and got the runner in a run-down. After throwing to Nic Arrue at third, Arrue gunned down the runner at the plate with a perfect play to catcher Smith. Smith then promptly gunned down the original batter, who was trying to make his way to second during the run-down.

Marywood trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but again, the Pacers rallied.

Daniel Hull singled to right to start the inning and stole second moments later on a swinging strikeout. Richards doubled to left to score Hull, and after a flyout moved him over to third, Richards scored what would be the winning run on a RBI single to left from Smith.

Haddix was solid throughout for the Pacers, allowing two earned runs over seven full innings while fanning five.

Over the two games, Smith was 4-for-7 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Hull went 3-for-6 with a double and two runs, while Richards finished the day 2-for-6 with a double and three RBI.

By winning both games, it marked the first time the Pacers swept both games of a doubleheader from Gwynedd Mercy since the Griffins joined the conference.

Marywood and Gwynedd will complete their three game regular season series tomorrow with nine inning game in Gwynedd Valley beginning at 1:00 pm.
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