Gwynedd Valley, PA – Host Gwynedd Mercy University spoiled Monday's Colonial States Athletic Conference opening doubleheader for Keystone College by sweeping a pair of games from the Giants.  The Griffins (8-4, 3-1 CSAC) used a big fifth inning and staved off a late comeback bid to take game one before using a three-run fourth inning in the nightcap on their way to a 3-1 victory over the Giants (2-6, 0-2 CSAC).
 
In Monday's opener, Keystone jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first at-bats of the game as Sara Schraden (Allentown, PA/William Allen) ripped a two-run triple to right field that scored Emily Long (Shamokin, PA/Lourdes Regional) and Karissa Worobey (Scranton, PA/Scranton).  Gwynedd Mercy countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning as MaryKate Ballerino hit an RBI triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Nikki Canfield. 
 
The Griffins opened up an 8-2 lead in the home fifth by plating six runs on five hits and one Keystone error.  Amanda Hesson worked a bases loaded walk before Ashley Zavatsky and Tara Matteo had RBI singles.  Hesson then scored on a wild pitch before Jessica Behr hit a two-run base hit to make it a six-run game.
 
Keystone attempted to mount a comeback in the seventh inning, putting up three runs before Gwynedd Mercy was able to shut the door on the visitor's comeback bid.  Katie Thompson (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) scored when Antonette Scialpi (Hughestown, PA/Pittston Area) hit into a fielder's choice before Long belted a two-run double to center to drive in Scialpi and Worobey, but that would mark the end of the scoring.
 
Jennifer Whalen went the distance on the mound for the Griffins, picking up the win after allowing five runs on five hits while striking out six batters. 
 
Whalen, Ballerino, and Zavatski led the hosts with two hits apiece in the game one victory as Gwynedd Mercy outhit the Giants 10-5 in the contest.
 
Worobey suffered the loss for Keystone after surrendering eight runs on eight hits and four walks to go along with two strikeouts in four innings of work.  Schraden fanned a pair of batters and yielded two hits in a pair of scoreless innings.
 
Worobey and Long paced the Giants with two hits apiece in opener.      
 
In Monday's nightcap, Keystone took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Kaitlyn Sawicki (Factoryville, PA/Lackawanna Trail) came home on a sacrifice fly by Lindsey Bucklaw (Carbondale, PA/Carbondale Area), but Gwynedd Mercy went ahead with three runs in the visitor's third. 
 
The Griffins scored their first two runs when Zavatsky hit into a fielder's choice and the Giants committed an error on the play before Matteo hit a sacrifice fly later in the inning to knock in the host's third run of the game, which proved to be the final tally of the contest.
 
Gwynedd Mercy starter Michele Arechavala allowed one run on eight hits in six innings before turning the ball over to Whalen, who notched the save with a perfect seventh inning.
 
Hesson and Jessica Mower led the Griffins with two hits apiece in the nightcap.
 
Schraden went the distance in the circle for Keystone in game two, yielding just one earned run on seven hits and three walks. 
 
Scialpi led the Giants with a 3-4 performance at the plate while Thompson added a pair of hits in the game two setback.
 
Keystone will return to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon with a CSAC doubleheader at Marywood University that is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. in Scranton, Pennsylvania.