HAMPDEN SYDENY, Va. --- The Moravian College baseball team rallied from an early 4-0 deficit but ended up falling to Wesley (Del.) College, 9-7, Sunday afternoon in the Greyhounds final game at the Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament hosted by Hampden-Sydney (Va.) College.
The Hounds return to Pennsylvania with a 2-1 mark, and the squad had a season-high 12 hits in the game against the Wolverines. Senior first baseman David Wodzisz went 2-for-3 with an RBI while junior third baseman Evan Kulig was 2-for-4. Sophomore right fielder Carmine Palummo also had two hits in six at-bats, and he scored two runs while junior center fielder Austin Markowski added two RBIs.
Senior Dan Morrin started on the mound for the Greyhounds and tossed five innings with six runs, four earned, on seven hits and four walks to go with four strikeouts. Junior Tyler Caraway took the loss in his first career appearance for Moravian, allowing three runs on four hits to go with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings of action, and Kulig tossed a third of an inning.
Wesley opened the scoring with a run in the second inning, and the Wolverines added three runs in the third for a 4-0 advantage.
Moravian struck for two runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut the deficit in half. Kulig drew a one-out walk and moved to third when Wodzisz reached on an error. Junior left fielder Mike Mittl followed with an RBI single to score Kulig, and Wodzisz crossed the plate on an RBI ground out by senior designated hitter Joey Maker.
The Greyhounds scored three more times in the top of the fifth frame to take a 5-4 advantage. Junior shortstop Matt Stalter led off with a walk before Palummo singled. After an out, Markowski ripped a two-RBI double to plate Stalter and Palummo. Kulig followed with a single to put Markowski on third, and Wodzisz connected on an RBI single to give the Blue and Grey the lead.
Wesley answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to move back ahead 6-5.
Moravian knotted the score once again at 6-6 with a run on the top of the sixth inning when senior pinch hitter Ezra Rawdon connected on a leadoff double, and senior pinch runner La'Ron Smith raced home on an RBI double by Stalter.
The Greyhounds would take a 7-6 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Palummo led off with a single and stole second base before moving to third base on a sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Tim Heard. Palummo eventually raced home on a passed ball as senior first baseman Logan Welles drew a walk.
Wesley scored three times in the bottom half of the eighth inning to take a 9-7 led. Moravian would load the bases in the top of the ninth before the game ended.
The Hounds are scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, February 28 in a non-conference game at Kean (N.J.) University beginning at 3:30 p.m.
