Gwynedd Mercy Upends Baseball in 2026 Season Opener

DAVENPORT, Fla. – Suffolk baseball dropped its 2026 opener to Gwynedd Mercy, 16-2, in seven innings Friday morning at the Northeast Regional Park at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Gwynedd Mercy 16
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-1) | Gwynedd Mercy (5-1) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Extra base hits factored into the scoring in the third inning. Noah Waldron led off the top of the inning with a two-bagger to left center and two batters after Drew Haines wore a pitch, Brady Belfus doubled down the left field line to bring the pair of runners around to give the Griffin's a 2-0 edge. 
• The Rams looked to respond as Vasili Scangas knocked a two-out double of his own and Colin Flynn singled to first to put runners in the corners. Suffolk was stranded there as Cole Hilliard lined a ball to first that Belfus glove to keep the blue-and-gold off the board. 
• The Griffins lengthened their lead with five runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth to make it an 11-0 margin. 
• Suffolk eliminated the shutout in the bottom of the fifth. Stephen Nardelli walked and Scangas wore a pitch to put runners on first and second. After Flynn flew out to center for the first out of the frame, Hilliard laced a ball to second. Gwynedd Mercy attempted to turn the double play, but an over throw by its second baseman Deven Ross allowed Nardelli to come in and put the Rams on the board. 
• Following a scoreless sixth, more runs were put in the seventh. After the Griffins put up a lopsided seven, Suffolk responded with one in the home half of the frame. Exactly how the blue-and-gold's first run came in, was how the second went up on a Gwynedd Mercy fielder's overthrow when attempting to turn a double play.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• John McDevitt took the loss as Suffolk's starter gave up seven runs on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 3.2 innings. 
• Nolan Drew (0.2 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 2 BB) and Jackson Garcia (2.2 IP, 5 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 K) came out of the pen for the Rams. 
• Michael Inglisa earned the decision. He let up one unearned run on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts scattered across 6.0 innings. 
• Andrew Klitsche shoved 1.0 inning of relief and allowed one unanswered run on one hit and one punch out.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Suffolk's six hits were scattered across six bats, Flynn, Sam Armbruster, Luke Thornton, Jack Mihalchik, Scangas, and Shayne King. 
• Scangas logged the lone extra base hit for the Rams. 
• Noah Greco and Nardelli scored one run apiece for the blue-and-gold. 
• Nardelli drew one walk. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk began its season in Florida on a neutral diamond for the first time since 2023.
• The Rams tangled with Gwynedd Mercy for the first time in program history. 
• Thornton, Scangas, King and Garcia made their collegiate debuts.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
A doubleheader with Saint Joseph's (Maine) awaits Suffolk tomorrow, Saturday, March 7 at Chain of Lakes in Winter Haven, Florida. Game one is scheduled for a 3:45 p.m. first pitch.