The top seed and host Moravian College opened the 2011 Landmark Conference baseball tournament with a 5-3 win over fourth seed Susquehanna University at Gillepsie Field Saturday afternoon.
The Greyhounds, who have won 15 straight, move into the winner's bracket game at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday versus third seed The Catholic University of America, which defeated second seed The University of Scranton, 6-5, in the other first round game, while the Crusaders will play in the first elimination game at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Susquehanna jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Freshman outfielder Ty Raubenstine led off the game with a single, and senior second baseman Justin Portzline followed with a bunt single. Later in the inning, sophomore designated hitter Nick Ferlise hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Raubenstine.
Moravian, which has won 19 straight games versus Landmark Conference opponents at Gillespie Field, answered with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Junior shortstop Dave Zubia walked to start the inning, and senior outfielder Jason Huber reached on a fielder's choice. After an out, senior outfielder Mike Zubia hit an RBI single to score Dave Zubia, and then senior third baseman Jon Baltz connected on an RBI single to score Huber. Mike Zubia scored on a throwing error by the Crusaders.
The Greyhounds pushed their lead to 4-1 with a run in the bottom of the second inning when sophomore outfielder Rocco Del Priore singled and scored on an error on a ground ball hit by Huber.
Susquehanna would score a run in the top of the fourth inning when sophomore third baseman Dan Wing hit a one-out solo homer.
The Crusaders pulled within a run in the top half of the eighth on a solo home run by Ferlise with two outs.
Moravian added an insurance run on the bottom of the eighth when Del Priore doubled with two outs and scored on an RBI single by Huber.
The Greyhounds had a 10-9 edge in hits with Huber going three-for-five with two RBIs and a run scored. Del Priore was two-for-four and scored twice while Baltz was two-for-three. For Susquehanna, Ferlise was two-for-three with two RBIs while freshman outfielder Ben Anderson was two-for-four.
Moravian junior Brendan Close remained undefeated on the mound at 10-0 after allowing three runs on nine hits to go with nine strikeouts. Close, who now has 100 strikeouts on the seasons, the first pitcher in school history to reach 100 strikeouts in one year, did not allow a walk for the sixth time this season. Close also became the third pitcher in school history to record 200 innings pitched, now with 202.1 innings in his career.
Senior Keith Needham took the loss for Susquehanna, giving up five runs, three earned, on five hits and four walks to go with three strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. Freshman Matt Smith tossed the final 1/3 of an inning.
