Reading, Pa (March 28, 2018) - Gwynedd Mercy University (5-7) and Alvernia University (13-5) traded the lead five times, but the Griffins came out on top to take the 7-6 win in non-conference baseball action on Wednesday evening at Alvernia.

The Griffins took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Gwynedd scored its first run of the inning with an RBI double to the gap in left from Ryan Keen. Keen then advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.

Gwynedd Mercy added one more in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Keen, who singled to right center earlier in the inning.

The Golden Wolves answered with a three run inning in the bottom of the third to even the game up at three apiece. Mike Cirilli drove in the first run of the inning with an RBI single up the middle to bring in Alex Salesky. In the next at bat, Nathan Sides grounded out second base, allowing Dillon Dunne to score. The inning was capped off with Cirilli scoring on an error by the Griffins.

The Griffins retook the lead with a one-run top of the fourth.

The back and forth continued with Alvernia plating two in the bottom of the fifth to go up 5-4. Sides hit a sacrifice fly to score Connor Boyle, and Colin Rieger hit a double to right center to bring in Cirilli.

Gwynedd Mercy got three back over the next two innings to go up 7-5.

Alvernia took one back with a double from Ian Shaffer to deep center field, scoring Dillon Dunne. The Golden Wolves had the winning run on first with one out, but were unable to convert.

The game was called for darkness after the eighth inning, with the Griffins taking the 7-6 win.

Cirilli led the Alvernia offense with three hits and an RBI. Aaron Kulp and Brian Kane struck out three apiece on the mound over seven innings. Michael Griffin allowed two runs in the seventh inning, picking up the loss.

Alvernia returns to the field tomorrow to face Hood College in the first game of the three game MAC Commonwealth series.

Gwynedd Mercy 7, Alvernia 6 (8)