HAMPDEN SYDNEY, Va. --- The Moravian College baseball team posted a 17-10 win over Stevenson (Md.) University in the Greyhounds' final game at the Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament Sunday hosted by Hampden-Sydney (Va.) College.
The Greyhounds, now 2-1 on the season, had 17 hits in the contest with senior center fielder Anthony Gaetaniello going 3-for-5 with three runs as he became the 11th player in school history to reach 100 runs scored, now with 102, and the 11th Greyhound to reach 150 career hits, now with 152. Freshman second baseman Ian Csencsits was 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs while sophomore catcher Chase Rogers had a 2-for-4 game with two runs and an RBI.
Sophomore right fielder Mike Mittl and freshman left fielder Carmine Palummo were both 2-for-5 with a double for the Hounds with Mittl adding three RBIs and two runs and Palummo scoring three times and driving in a pair of runs. Junior first baseman Joey Maker and junior designated hitter David Wodzsiz both had two hits and two RBIs as well for Moravian with Maker scoring twice.
Junior Nicolas Ampietro started on the mound and tossed two innings with a run on two hits and a walk while striking out four batters. Junior Nicholas Mazzella, who earned the victory, came on to pitch 3.2 innings with eight runs, six earned on six hits and three walks. Sophomore Billy Roethke tossed 1.1 innings and allowed a hit while junior Bryan Schoch pitched two innings with two hits, a walk and a strikeout for the save. Also seeing action on the mound was junior Clay Weidemoyer, who allowed a run on two hits and two walks.
Gaetaniello led off the game with the 150th hit of his Moravian career but would be stranded on base in the inning. The Mustangs would score a run in the bottom half of the first inning for an early 1-0 lead.
The Greyhounds broke through for four runs in the top of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Rogers drew a walk to start the frame, and sophomore shortstop Matt Stalter reached on an error. Gaetaniello dropped down a bunt single to load the bases, and Palummo followed with a two-RBI double down the right field line to score Rogers and Stalter. After an out, Maker ripped a two-RBI single to score Gaetaniello and Palummo as Gaetaniello scored for the 100th time in his career.
Mittl led off the top of the fifth inning with a bunt single and he would race home on a pinch-hit single by Csencsits. Wodzsiz added an RBI sacrifice fly as Maker scored, and Rogers connected on an RBI single that plated Csencsits to push the Hounds' lead to 7-1.
Stevenson picked up two runs in the bottom half of the fifth frame to cut the Blue and Grey's edge to 7-3.
Moravian had another four-run inning in the top of the sixth to push the advantage to 11-3. Gaetaniello led off with a single and Palummo walked before Mittl connected on a two-RBI double. Later in the inning, sophomore third baseman Evan Kulig walked and raced home when Csencsits ripped an RBI single. Wodzsiz finished off the winning with an RBI double as Csencsits crossed the plate.
The Mustangs answered and scored seven times in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull within a run at 11-10.
The Greyhounds would get two of the runs back in the top of the eighth to make the lead 13-10. Maker singled with one out and moved to second on a ground out by Kulig. Csencsits followed with an RBI single to left field to score Maker, and Csencsits also scored on the play after an error in the Stevenson outfield.
Moravian finished off the scoring with four runs in the top of the ninth inning. Rogers led off with a double and scored when Palummo reached on an error. Mittl added an RBI sacrifice bunt as Gaetaniello raced home, and Kulig finished off the scoring with a two-RBI double that scored Palummo and Mittl.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, February 28 in a non-conference game at No. 19 Kean (N.J.) University beginning at 3:30 p.m.
