The Moravian College baseball team swept a Landmark Conference doubleheader at The Catholic University of America, 3-2 in nine innings and 8-7, Saturday to extend its winning streak to 13 games and clinch the top seed in the 2011 Landmark Conference Tournament that begins on Saturday, May 7th.
In the opening game, the Greyhounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Senior outfielder Jason Huber, pictured at right, hit a one-out single and scored later in the inning with two outs after senior outfielder Mike Zubia was hit by a pitch.
The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when designated hitter Chris McCloud doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single by catcher Mark Kalokitis. The run was the first off of Moravian junior pitcher Brendan Close in conference action since April 2nd.
Moravian retook the lead in the top of the seventh inning when freshman second baseman Edwin Balcarcel reached on an error. Freshman Joseph Connell came into run for Balcarcel and Connell scored on an RBI single by sophomore outfielder Rocco Del Priore.
Catholic tied the game in the bottom half of the seventh to force extra innings on an RBI single from shortstop LJ Travaglia.
The Greyhounds would retake the lead, 3-2, on a solo homer by Huber with two outs in the top of the ninth. It was Huber's fourth homer of the season and third solo home run in two games this week.
Moravian had an 11-9 edge in hits in the game with Huber going three-for-five with two runs and an RBI. Senior third baseman Jon Baltz was two-for-four while junior first baseman Kevin O'Keefe went two-for-five. Travaglia was three-for-five to lead Catholic while Kaokitis was two-for-four.
For the first time this season, Close did not earn a decision in a game he started on the mound for the Greyhounds as he allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk to go with six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of action. Junior Kyle Longernecker, pictured at left, earned his second win of the season for Moravian in relief, allowing a hit and striking out two batters in 2 1/3 innings. The Cardinals used three pitchers with Marc Hanna taking the loss with two innings of relief work.
In the second contest, Catholic took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a solo homer from outfielder Brendan Breslin.
Moravian would score three times in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Junior catcher Austin Rock hit a two-RBI single to score Zubia and O'Keefe while senior designated hitter Jacob Millen scored on an RBI single from Baltz.
The Cardinals answered with three runs on the bottom half of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. Breslin drove in the first run of the inning with an RBI doubles while first baseman Dave Greer connected on a two-run home run to put Catholic back in front.
A three-run fifth inning would give the Cardinals a 7-3 lead after RBI singles from McCloud and Kalokitis and an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of outfielder Matt Grieb.
The Greyhounds answered with five runs in the top of the sixth inning for an 8-7 advantage. Junior designated hitter Gregg Steinman led off with a walk before Rock, pictured at right, connected on a two-run homer, his first home run of the season. Del Priore would hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Balcarcel before O'Keefe put Moravian back in front with a two-RBI single to score Huber and freshman shortstop Daniel Seitzinger.
Catholic had a 10-9 edge in hits in the second game with Breslin going two-for-two with two RBIs and a pair of runs. Second baseman Tim Mierzwa was two-for-three for the Cardinals. Rock led the Greyhounds with a three-for-three performance to go with four RBIs while Huber was two-for-three, and he stole a base to become the first player in school history with 50 career stolen bases.
Freshman Benjamin Hammel earned his first collegiate win for the Greyhounds, allowing two hits and striking out two batters in two innings of action. Freshman Jonathan Harasin started on the mound for the Greyhounds, giving up seven runs on eight hits and two walks to go with a strikeout in 4 2/3 innings of action, and freshman Evan Bray walked the only batter he faced in the game.
The Cardinals used five pitchers in the second game with Thomas Travaglia taking the loss after giving up a pair of unearned runs in a third of an inning.
