SCRANTON, Pa. - Marywood University split an Atlantic East Conference baseball doubleheader as the away side on its home field. The Pacers defeated Gwynedd Mercy 7-1 in the opener and fell 2-0 in the nightcap. The game was played at Pacers Park due to ongoing construction at the Gwynedd Mercy facility.
Game 1: Marywood 7, Gwynedd Mercy 1 (7 inn.)
Max Ryan notched the victory in the opener with seven strikeouts. Ryan allowed three hits and an earned run over six innings.
Tyler Quick and
Danny Becker combined for a scoreless inning to top the Griffins.
Vinny D'Auria went 3 for 4 with a run and a stolen base.
Danny Tiedemann doubled as part of a 2-for-3 effort with two runs and two RBIs.
Christian Michak drove in two runs with a walk.
Marywood tacked on a run in the first inning.
Adam Ginsberg reached on an error to center field, and D'Auria singled to right.
Max Slusser hit a sacrifice fly to score the first run in the top of the first.
The Pacers added three runs in the fourth inning.
Kyle Morin led off with a walk, and
AJ Kuzior hit a double that just stayed in fair territory down the left field line. Tiedemann hit a deep fly down the left line that cleared the bases to take a 3-0 lead. Ginsberg singled to left field to stretch Marywood's lead to 4-0.
Gwynedd Mercy responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Sam Junker singled down the right field line to score Jake Martell.
Marywood responded with two runs on a two-out rally in the sixth.
Joey Galantini singled to center field, and Tiedemann hit a ball up the middle. Michak knocked a double to left field to increase Marywood's lead to five. The Pacers added another run in the seventh when
AJ Giannetti touched home on a wild pitch.
The Griffins pressured Marywood in the seventh. Martell singled to left field, and a hit-batter put a runner in scoring position.
Danny Becker forced a lineout to end the game.
Game 2: Gwynedd Mercy 2, Marywood 0
Nick Notari came on the short end of a pitcher's duel. Allowing just two hits into the seventh inning, Notari allowed two runs -- one unearned -- that ultimately decided the game.
Notari finished with a complete game quality start. He pitched eight innings with five strikeouts, one walk, five hits and one earned run.
Junker had a hit on a hot-shot single to third base that was not able to be collected on a diving play. Nick Andress hit a sacrifice fly to score the first run of the game. Zach Redican singled, and a run scored on an error at second base.
Max Slusser finished 3 for 4. Michak had a double for the lone extra base hit.
Joseph Bruno hit a line drive to center field that was initially called a double before overruled by the home plate umpire. Michak's double put a runner in scoring position, but he was picked off on a 1-6-5-4-7 play.
Marywood was unable to capitalize in the sixth inning when a pair of singles created a first and second situation with one out. The Pacers were unable to drive a run home to break the stalemate.
Bruno made the play of the season, emulating Los Angeles Angels right fielder Hunter Renfroe's Opening Day catch. With one out and a runner on first base in the eighth inning, Nick Price crushed a ball to deep right field. Initially making a move towards the foul line, Bruno cut back to his left with his back turned to the field. At the warning track, Bruno made a no-look stab at the sailing ball to rob Price of a home run. Bruno doubled off Martell at first base for an outfield assist that ended the inning.
Marywood (12-13, 3-4) and Gwynedd Mercy (12-12, 2-6) return to Pacer Park for a Tuesday rubber match at 3 p.m.
