Gwynedd Valley, Pa. — If it felt like déjà vu, that's because it was.
Marywood University swept Gwynedd Mercy University in an Atlantic East Conference baseball doubleheader, winning both games the same way: breaking a scoreless tie with a decisive rally in the final inning.
Rhe Pacers allowed just eight hits across 16 innings.
With the wins, Marywood (18-10, 6-3) moves into a tie with Centenary atop the Atlantic East Conference standings.
Game 1: Marywood 6, Gwynedd Mercy 0 (7 inn.)
Marywood broke a scoreless game open with six runs in the top of the seventh inning — all with two outs.
The Pacers scored the first two go-ahead runs on back-to-back bases-loaded RBI hit by pitches.
Nick Ruiz spurred the Pacers' offense with a walk, followed by a Jalen Soberal single to right center. After Cam Bott walked to load the bases, Evan Bruder took a hit by a pitch to bring in the first run of the game. Chasing the Griffins' starter, Adam Ginsberg took another one for the team to bring in the Pacers' second run.
What followed was three straight RBI singles. Joel Ayers hit an infield single, and Tanner Vicendese singled up the middle to bring in two runs. Ethan Reccek capped the scoring with another base hit up the middle.
Brett Kugler earned the win in relief. Kugler grabbed his first victory, allowing one hit in one strikeout in two innings.
Gwynedd Mercy's Dylan Ganey took the loss, allowing four earned runs in a solid 6 2/3 innings pitched. Marywood struck out just once.
On the mount, Danny Tiedemann was sharp through four inning, allowing two walks with two strikeouts. Aidan Dolan threw a scoreless inning to maintain the lead. The Marywood staff allowed just two hits.
Receek went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Vicendese drove in two. Ruiz flirted with the saint cycle with three productive plate appearances without an official at-bat. Ruiz walked twice and sacrifice bunted. Cam Bott drew two walks. Marywood struck out just once.
Game 2: Marywood 4, Gwynedd Mercy 0
Similar to the opener, the Pacers were patient until the last inning to set off fireworks. Again, the Pacers waited out the Gwynedd Mercy starter to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard.
With one out in the top of the ninth, Marywood hit back-to-back doubles to break the scoreless stalemate. Mike Biskup launched a double to left field, followed by a Ruiz two-bagger to right field to bring in the first run. After a pitching change, Vicendese reached via an error.
Just like the first game, it was back-to-back RBI hit-by-pitches by the same two players. After Bott loaded the bases, both Bruder and Ginsberg again sacrificed their bodies to bring in a Marywood run. Joel Ayers brought in the fourth run on a sacrifice fly.
Again, just like the first game, a Marywood reliever notched a two-inning win. Noah Trager improved to 2-2 with a scoreless outing that featured two strikeouts and one base hit.
Isaac Galarza threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Biskup and Ruiz went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Biskup had a pair of doubles.
The doubleheader shutout was a historic one for the program. It marked the first time in Marywood history that the Pacers blanked opponents in back-to-back games in a doubleheader, and only the second time overall they have done so in consecutive games. The last instance came in a three-day stretch in April 2014, when Marywood shut out Valley Forge (13-0) and Cairn (17-0). The 16-inning shutout streak is the longest in program history.
Marywood hosts Penn State Berks on Monday at 4 p.m.
