PUNTA GORDA, Fla. --- The Moravian College baseball improved to 2-0 on the season by taking down a second nationally-ranked opponent in two days as the Greyhounds defeated No. 12 Marietta (Ohio) College, 8-5, in the Snowbird Classic at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, Florida Sunday morning.
Freshman hurler Dan Morrin picked up the victory on the mound for the Greyhounds in his first collegiate start, allowing just five hits while striking out eight batters in the first six innings of the contest. Junior Brett Wagner picked up his first collegiate save, tossing the final 2.1 innings with a walk and two strikeouts. Freshmen Adam Howard and Bryan Schoch also saw action on the mound for Moravian.
At the plate, the Hounds knocked out 13 hits with senior shortstop Colin Case going 3-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored. Junior first baseman Charles Savite went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs while senior designated hitter Chris Lansberry had two RBIs. Sophomore center fielder Anthony Gaetaniello was 2-for-4.
Moravian jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Case walked with one out and scored from second base on a two-out RBI single to center field by Savite.
The Hounds doubled the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth frame. Senior third baseman Ryan Luke drew a walk to start the inning, and he scored on a two-out RBI single to center field by junior catcher Mike Roethke.
Moravian would chase home five runs in the top of the sixth to push its lead to 7-0. Gaetaniello led off with a single through the right side before stealing second base. He would score on a one-out RBI single through the left side of the infield by senior right fielder Matt Hanson. Hanson eventually scored on a throwing error while Savite would cross the plate on an RBI double down the left field line by senior left fielder Justin Pilchman. Lansberry followed with a two-RBI double to left field that scored Luke and Pilchman. The inning ended with the Blue and Grey trying to extend the lead as Lansberry was caught in a rundown between third and home after Gaetaniello's second single of the inning.
The Hounds tacked on their final run in the top of the seventh inning with Case hitting a single to right field to lead off and scoring on an RBI single to center field off of Savite's bat.
The Pioneers would strike for all five of their runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Greyhounds get back to action on Monday, March 9 when they take on another nationally-ranked squad, facing No. 19 Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) College at 9:00 a.m.
