La Plume, PA (4-5-10) - Eric Groff drove in six runs on the afternoon as Keystone College handed Neumann University its first conference losses of the season with the Giants taking both ends of the doubleheader, 5-4 and 8-7.
With the sweep Keystone moves to 13-5 overall and 6-2 in the CSAC, while Neumann falls to 8-10 and 3-2. The sweep runs Keystone's current win streak to six straight.
Groff finished his day with a 3-5 effort, a line that included a grand slam and a double. The senior drove in six while scoring twice.
Ryan Smyth also homered as part of a 2-3 effort in the opener, while Esteban Meletiche added a double.
In the opener the Giants scored twice in the first when Meletiche drove in Groff and Angel Fargas after the duo had recorded back-to-back singles.
After the Knights knotted things in the fourth, Smyth broke the stalemate with a solo shot to left.
Neumann would bounce back in the fifth by stringing three singles together to plate two and retake the lead at 4-3. However, the Giants answered right back in the bottom of the inning by scoring twice, taking advantage of two Neumann errors. Ray Jackson scored on a Brian Del Rosso infield single to tie things up and Groff knocked in the game winner on a ground out to third.
Mike Hanley worked six innings of seven hit ball to earn his fourth win of the year. Hanley struck out six, allowing three earned runs. Victor Lara struck out one in the seventh in earning the save.
In the nightcap Groff's grand slam highlighted a five run third inning that pushed the Giants toward the sweep.
Donald Reese added a solo shot in the fifth, as the Giants took full advantage of their seven hits. Smyth and Jimmy Ferraro each picked up RBI'S in the nightcap.
Keystone scored twice in the first by way of a pair of sacrifice flies. After the five run third and Reese's solo shot in the fifth the Giants brought an 8-3 lead into the seventh.
Neumann would chip away against a pair of relievers, drawing to within a run before a bouncer back to the pitcher ended things.
Sean Murphy picked up the win, going five and two-thirds while striking out seven.
Keystone and Neumann will play the rubber game of the three-game set tomorrow at 3pm at Neumann.
Game 1 Box Score/Play by Play
Game 2 Box Score/Play by Play
