HAMPDEN SYDNEY, Va. --- Seniors Robert Solano and Chris Soltys combined on a seven-hit shutout to lead the Moravian College baseball team to a 1-0 victory over Wesley College in the opening game of the 7th Annual Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament at Hampden-Sydney College Friday.
Solano, who was making his second straight opening day start, allowed six hits and a walk while striking out seven batters for his first win of the season. Soltys then came on for a two-inning save, giving up a hit and recording two strikeouts on the final two batters of the ninth inning. The duo stranded seven runners on base including five in scoring position and a pair at third base.
Solano moved into 10th in school history in innings pitched, now 151.0, and a tie for 10th with his 11th career victory. The save was the sixth for Soltys is his Moravian career.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. today but was moved an hour earlier to try and avoid rain. That didn't happen.
With the Greyhounds threatening after a leadoff double by sophomore first baseman Charles Savite in the home half of the second inning and with Savite standing on third with two outs, the rain came and forced the teams into a 2:35 minute rain delay. When the game resumed, the Wolverines quickly worked out of the inning and kept the game scoreless.
Moravian eventually broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning for the only run of the game. Senior second baseman Daniel Seitzinger was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and he crossed the plate on an RBI single off the bat of junior outfielder Matt Hanson.
The Hounds had a chance to extend the lead with a run in the seventh inning but Seitzinger was thrown out at the plate trying to score from third on a grounder to shortstop.
The Greyhounds were limited to six hits in their first action outside since the fall with Savite's double, the only extra-base hit. Eric Speidel and Matt Domian each had two hits for Wesley including a double for each player.
Moravian will continue its three-game trip to the Wilcox Memorial Tournament on Saturday, February 22 when the Hounds face tournament host Hampden-Sydney at 11:00 a.m.
