BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- For the second time Sunday, the top seed and No. 22-ranked Moravian College baseball team staved off elimination in the 2014 Landmark Conference Tournament at Gillespie Field after defeating fourth seed The United States Merchant Marine Academy, 7-4, in the final elimination game of the tournament.
The Greyhounds, who tied the school record with their 31st win of the season and are 31-9 overall, will play second seed Susquehanna University in the championship round on Monday, May 5 with the first game at 11:00 a.m. The Hounds will need two victories to defend their Landmark title and earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament that begins on May 14 while the Crusaders will need to win just one game for their first Landmark championship.
"The kids responded well and fought through playing the elimination games, and that is all for," stated Head Coach Paul Engelhardt. "We put ourselves in a position where we can still win the conference championship.
"It's nice but this team is playing for a lot more," Engelhardt explained about tying the school record for victories. "We've got more baseball ahead of us with the games tomorrow, Rowan University on Friday, and we want to be and fully expect to be in the NCAA Regionals next week. It's nice but I see bigger and better things yet to come."
Moravian jumped out to a 3-0 lead on USMMA in the bottom of the second inning. Junior third baseman Ryan Luke led off with a single and scored on an RBI single up the middle from senior center fielder Joseph Connell. Freshman outfielder Anthony Gaetaniello came up with the bases loaded and connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to score sophomore designated hitter Cameron Leon. Junior shortstop Colin Case with an RBI single through the left side to score sophomore catcher Mike Roethke.
The Mariners would get on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning on an RBI double to center field by senior center fielder Andrew MacKinnon, and USMMA tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth when junior right fielder Cameron Stadele connected on a two-run homer to left field, his sixth home run of the spring.
The Greyhounds moved back in front in the bottom of the sixth inning with a run. Roethke drew a walk to start the frame, and he scored when Case reached on an RBI fielder's choice.
USMMA tied the game again in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI single from senior second baseman Warren Hartmann.
"They're tough kids," Engelhardt said of USMMA's ability to rally. "They are a military academy, and they can hit. I never thought it was going to be easy, and I tip my hat to them because they are always very competitive."
Moravian answered right back with three runs in the bottom half of the eighth. Roethke led off with a single to left field and freshman Cedar McCredie came on to pinch run. Sophomore second baseman Alex Bull reached on a throwing error, and Gaetaniello put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. Senior shortstop Daniel Seitzinger then put down a perfectly placed safety squeeze bunt down the third base line. The Mariners tried to make a play at home but McCredie slid around the play to put the Greyhounds back on top. Junior right fielder Matt Hanson was hit by a pitch to load the bases and after an out, Luke drew an RBI walk to score Bull. Connell finished off the scoring with an RBI single to shortstop that scored Seitzinger.
The Greyhounds finished the game with an 11-9 edge in hits as Connell went 3-for-4 at the plate as he moved into third in school history with 174 career hits. Gaetaniello was 2-for-2 for the Hounds while Luke was 2-for-3. MacKinnon and senior shortstop Danny Collins each had two hits for the Mariners.
"Joey was the vocal leader coming into this game in the locker room," Engelhardt stated about his co-captain Connell. "He's been playing through an injury all season, and it is nice to see him lead offensively, and lead this team to victory."
Moravian started senior Thomas Mariano on the mound, and he allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits with one strikeout in seven-plus innings of action. Sophomore Ian Carbone improved to 2-0 this spring with two hits and a pair of strikeouts in the final two innings.
"Tommy gave a senior effort there today against a very good hitting team," Engelhardt commented on his starter. "He gave us seven-plus innings. What else can you ask from a senior, and he did it. Ian has been outstanding all year. Between the two of them, they did what we needed them to do today."
USMMA, which finishes the season at 21-13-1, used three pitchers with sophomore Brad Suciu taking the loss in relief.
