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Greyhounds Sweep Landmark Conference Doubleheader from Elizabethtown

Ian Csencsits '20 heads towards first base in a game versus The Catholic University of America at Gillespie Field.
Ian Csencsits '20 heads towards first base in a game versus The Catholic University of America at Gillespie Field.

ASTON, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team swept a Landmark Conference doubleheader from host Elizabethtown College Sunday, winning the opener 6-1 and the second game 15-2, in a pair of games played at the Maplezone Sports Institute Sports Village turf fields due to field conditions at Elizabethtown from last week's winter storm.

The Greyhounds, 7-9 overall and 2-3 in Landmark Conference action, had 11 hits in the opening game with sophomore second baseman Ian Csencsits and junior third baseman Evan Kulig each going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior left fielder Mike Mittl and sophomore right fielder Carmine Palummo were both 2-for-4 with Mittl driving in two runs and Palummo scoring twice.

Senior Nicholas Mazzella went the distance on the mound to improve to 3-2 on the season after allowing a run on three hits and two walks. Mazzella also struck out seven batters in the victory.

The Hounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning junior catcher Andrew Koenig led off with a single and scored on an error on a ball hit by Palummo. Csencsits followed with an RBI single that would score Palummo.

Moravian added a run in the top of the fourth frame on an RBI single from senior designated hitter Ezra Rawdon that scored senior first baseman Joey Maker, who had led off with a single, and the Blue and Grey pushed the lead to 4-0 with a run in the top of the fifth when Palummo started the inning with a bunt single and scored on an RBI single by Kulig.

Elizabethtown would get on the scoreboard in the home half of the fifth inning.

The Greyhounds then finished off the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh for a 6-1 edge to finish off the first game. Csencsits connected on a double with one out and Kulig was hit by a pitch. After a ground out by Maker put both runners in scoring position, Mittl connected on a two-RBI single to chase Csencsits and Kulig across the plate.

Moravian had another 13 hits in the second game with Csencsits going 3-for-4 with an RBIs. Palummo, junior catcher Chase Rogers and junior shortstop Matt Stalter were each 2-for-4 with Palummo scoring twice, Stalter crossing the plate three times and Rogers adding four RBIs, a double and his first home run of the season. Kulig was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored while junior center fielder Austin Markowski connected on his second homer of the season to go with three RBIs.

Junior Rhett Jacoby earned the victory on the mound to improve to 3-2 on the year. Jacoby allowed a run on three hits to go with three strikeouts in seven innings of action. Freshman Kyle Serman tossed the final two innings with an unearned run on two hits and a strikeout.

The Blue Jays jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second while Moravian knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the third inning. Stalter reached on an infield single to start the frame, and he raced home from second base when Kulig reached on an error.

The Greyhounds plated seven runs in the top of the fifth inning to take an 8-1 advantage. Stalter drew a one-out walk and scored on back-to-back singles by Palummo and Csencsits. Kulig followed with an RBI double as Palummo raced home, and Maker drew a walk to load the bases before Mittl connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to bring Csencsits home. Markowski walked to load the bases again, and Rawdon also drew a walk to score Kulig. Rogers would clear the bases with a three-RBI double down the left field line.

The Hounds tacked on another seven runs in the top of the eighth inning for a 15-1 lead. Rogers started the frame with a solo home run to left field, his first homer since his freshman season and second of his career. Stalter followed with a single, Palummo reached on an error and Kulig singled to load the bases. Senior pinch hitter Logan Welles drew an RBI walk as Stalter scored, and freshman left fielder Thomas Philipps reached on a fielder's choice that saw both Palummo and Kulig score on an error. Markowski then ripped his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to left center field as Welles and Philipps scored.

Elizabethtown pushed an unearned run across the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning to finish off the game.

Moravian and Elizabethtown will close out the three-game Landmark Conference series on Monday, March 26 with a nine-inning game. The site for the contest will be determined Monday morning with either a 4:00 p.m. game at Elizabethtown if the Blue Jays' field is ready or a 7:00 p.m. game at Ephrata High School's turf field.