HUNTINGDON, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team extended its winning streak to six games with its fifth consecutive Landmark Conference victory, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat host Juniata College, 5-2, in the opening game of a three-game Landmark series Saturday.
Senior closer Chris Soltys improved to 4-0 on the mound for the Hounds in his fourth appearance of more than two-plus innings this season. Soltys tossed the final 3 2/3 innings with two hits allowed and three strikeouts. Sophomore Brett Wagner had started on the hill for Moravian, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while also striking out three batters over the first 5 1/3 innings of the game.
Moravian had an 11-8 advantage in hits in the game with senior outfielder Joseph Connell and junior Matt Hanson were each 2-for-4 in the game. Hanson also had two RBIs as each of the Greyhounds' nine batters had a hit in the contest.
The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Cody Krepps hit a two-out, bases loaded single to plate a pair of runs.
Moravian answered in the top of the fourth to cut the lead in half. Sophomore first baseman Charles Savite started the inning with a single and crossed the plate on an RBI ground out from Connell.
The Greyhounds then tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth. Savite started the inning again, this time with a four-pitch walk, and he scored on an RBI single by junior outfielder Justin Pilchman.
Moravian took its first lead of the game an inning later in the top of the seventh. Junior second baseman Alex Longernecker led off with an infield single to first base, and after a sacrifice bunt from junior shortstop Colin Case, Longernecker scored for a 3-2 Greyhounds' lead on an RBI single from junior Hanson.
The Greyhounds extended the lead in the top of the ninth. Case and junior third baseman Ryan Luke but Case was picked off at second base. Hanson connected on RBI triple to right center to score Luke, and Hanson added another insurance run when he scampered home on a passed ball.
Krepps had three of the Eagles eight hits while Derek Heath added two hits for Juniata.
Moravian and Juniata will close out their Landmark series on Sunday, March 30 with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Huntingdon.
