HAMPDEN SYDNEY, Va. --- The Moravian College baseball team opened its 2017 season at the Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament hosted by Hampden-Sydney University Friday with an 8-5 loss to Southern Virginia University.
he Greyhounds finished their first contest of the spring with 12 hits as senior center fielder Anthony Gaetaniello went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, the 51st of his career to move into sole possession of second place in the Moravian record books, and junior designated hitter Logan Welles collecting two hits in five at-bats to go with a pair of RBIs.
Junior Dan Morrin started on the mound for the Blue and Grey and allowed six runs, just three earned, on six hits and a walk to go with nine strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Junior Ryan Kahn tossed two innings and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while junior Bryan Schoch tossed the final 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Southern Virginia jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with three unearned runs. Moravian would get a run back in the top of the fourth inning when sophomore left fielder Austin Markowski led off with a double and scored on an RBI single from sophomore third baseman Evan Kulig.
Southern Virginia answered in the bottom of the fourth with a run and tacked on three more in the fifth to take a 7-1 lead.
The Greyhounds, who left the bases loaded in the fifth inning and a total of 11 runners on base in the game, would score four times in the top of the sixth frame to pull within two runs at 7-5. Senior Nicolas Ampietro came on to pinch hit with one out and singled. Ampietro would race around and score on an RBI double from sophomore shortstop Matt Stalter. A pitch hit Gaetaniello and freshman first baseman Ian Csencsits drew a walk to load the bases before sophomore right fielder Mike Mittl connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to play Stalter. After a walk by Markowski, Welles ripped a two RBI single that scored Csencsits and Gaetaniello.
Southern Virginia finished off the scoring with a run in the bottom of the sixth.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, February 25 at the Floyd B, Wilcox Memorial Tournament when Moravian plays host Hampden-Sydney at 11:00 a.m.