BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team honored its seven seniors before today's doubleheader as the Greyhounds split a pair of Landmark Conference games with The United States Merchant Marine Academy, winning 3-1 in game one and falling 5-3 in game two.
With the split and based on the other results from Landmark games today, Moravian clinched a seventh straight postseason berth with a spot in the 2015 Landmark Conference Tournament that begins with a pair of best-of-three series on Saturday, May 2. Seeding for the tournament is still up in the air based on Sunday's slate of game except for the top seed which has been clinched by the University of Scranton.
Senior right fielder Matt Hanson went 3-for-3 in game one Saturday against USMMA as fellow senior left fielder Justin Pilchman went 2-for-2 drawing one walk.
After a scoreless first inning, the Greyhounds would earn their first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Pilchman started the inning with a deep double to left field and would advance to third on a single to the shortstop by junior third basemen Alex Bull. A sacrifice fly by senior second basemen Alex Longernecker to left field gave the Hounds a 1-0.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Hanson ripped a triple that would make its way to the left center fence. Junior first basemen Charles Savite drew a walk and would advance to second on an RBI base hit through the right side by Pilchman scoring the run. Bull would reach on an error by that advanced the runners and scored Savite.
The Mariners added a run in the top of the fifth, but the Blue and Grey would hold them scoreless the next two innings for a final score of 3-1.
On the mound, freshman Dan Morrin pitched a full game for his fourth win of the season with three strikeouts.
In game two, Merchant Marine jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead. Moravian took until the third inning to piece a few hits together. Junior catcher Mike Roethke started the inning with a single up the middle and would later advance to second on a passed ball. Longernecker singled to the pitcher advancing the runner to third. A fielder's choice would earn sophomore center fielder Anthony Gaetaniello an RBI for the Greyhounds first run as Roethke score.
Headed into the bottom of the fifth, the Hounds trailed 4-1. Longernecker reached first after being hit by a pitch and would advance to second after single to left field by Gaetaniello. The bases were loaded after senior shortstop Colin Case was also hit by a pitch to bring up the designated hitter senior Ryan Luke. After a misplayed ball by the third basemen all the runners would advance cutting the lead to 4-2. Hanson hit a fly ball out to left field on the that scored another run on the sacrifice fly but the Hounds heading to the sixth inning trailing, 4-3.
Unfortunately, the Mariners tacked on an insurance run that the Blue and Grey couldn't counter with their last at bats falling, 5-3.
On the mound, freshman Ryan Kahn got the start throwing four innings with five strikeouts while junior Brett Wagner pitcher three innings for three strikeouts.
The Greyhounds and Mariners return to Gillespie Field to finish the Landmark Conference series Sunday, April 26 with the first pitch set for 12:00 p.m.
