The Moravian College baseball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from Arcadia University Sunday afternoon at Gillespie Field, winning 5-1 and 3-1, to give head coach Paul Engelhardt his 100th career victory.
Engelhardt won his 100th game in the opener in just his 183rd game in five seasons as Moravian's head coach. It was also the team's 20th win of the season to give the program three straight 20-win seasons. Engelhardt now has a 101-83 career mark as the Greyhounds captured their eighth straight win at Gillespie Field this season. Moravian has won 21 of its last 22 games at home dating back to 2010.
In the opener, the Knights took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when sophomore outfielder Brandon Martin led off the game with a single and scored on a two-out, RBI single from junior outfielder Kyle Jackson.
Moravian answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first to take a 2-1 lead. Senior outfielder Jason Huber hit a one-out single, stole second base and scored on an RBI single from junior first baseman Kevin O'Keefe. O'Keefe scored the go ahead run on a two-out, RBI single from junior designated hitter Gregg Steinman.
The Greyhounds pushed their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning when O'Keefe walked and eventually scored on a passed ball.
Moravian finished off the scoring in the opener with two runs in the fifth inning. Junior shortstop Dave Zubia hit a one-out single and scored on a failed pickoff attempt of Huber at first base. Huber scored on another Knight error in the inning.
The Greyhounds had a 5-4 edge in hits in the game, and both Huber and O'Keefe were each one-for-two with two runs scored.
Moravian junior pitcher Brendan Close won his school record eighth game of the season to improve to 8-0 with a run on four hits and no walks while striking out seven to tie his own single season record with 78. Close is now 20-3 in his career with 210 strikeouts, both school records.
Senior Jason Heryla took the loss for Arcadia, allowing five runs, just two earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out four batters.
In the second game, the Greyhounds took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Junior catcher Austin Rock was hit by a pitch with one out and scored on an error after a bunt single by senior designated hitter Matt Kensecki. Senior third baseman Jon Baltz, who had walked after Rock's at-bats, scored what was the winning run on a sacrifice fly from senior second baseman Jake Schweitzer.
Arcadia scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to cut Moravian's lead in half. Sophomore Jerry Smith hit a one-out single and scored on a Moravian error.
The Greyhounds finished the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning when Schweitzer, pictured at right, hit a one-out single and scored on an RBI single by Huber.
The Knights had a 7-6 edge in hits in the game with Smith going three-for-three. Schweitzer was two-for-two with an RBI and a run to lead Moravian.
Greyhound freshman pitcher Jonathan Harasin improved to 5-1 on the mound after allowing an unearned run on seven hits to go with three strikeouts in six innings of action. Junior Kyle Longernecker picked up his sixth save of the season with a walk in the final inning of action.
Arcadia junior Marc Gottfried went the distance, allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
