Lower Gwynedd, Pa. (Mar. 30, 2016) - Gwynedd-Mercy (10-8) scored four runs over the first seven innings and it was just enough to hold off Alvernia University (11-10) in a 4-3 decision Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Gwynedd.

The Griffins scored a pair of runs off senior starter Matt Backlund then added two in the seventh off reliver Tim Carfrey for a 4-0 lead.  Alvernia scored three times in the eighth and had the tying run on in the ninth, but ended up just short.

Shakore Bragg-Taylor walked to start the top of the eight for the Crusaders and moved up on a single by Nathan Sides.  Both players advanced on a balk then Mike Cunningham delivered a 2-run triple to cut the gap in half.  Cunningham scored on a passed ball to pull to within a run at 4-3 and three more batters reached in the inning, but the Crusaders couldn't drive home the tying run.

James Bertolotti walked with one out in the ninth and Joe IacoBellis pinch ran for him, but was stranded at first.

GMC scored a run on two Alvernia errors in the second then added a run on a two-out hit in the fourth.  Another error and another two-out single led to two more runs for the hosts in the seventh.

Backlund went 6.0 innings and allowed two runs--one earned--on four hits with seven strikeouts.  Carfrey allowed two runs--also one earned--and recorded one out.  Evan Young finished the final 1.2 innings allowing just one walk.

The Crusaders return to the conference schedule on Friday when they travel to Widener University in a rematch of the last two conference champions.

Gwynedd-Mercy 4, Alvernia 3