BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team opened its three-game Landmark Conference series with Juniata College by posting a 12-1 victory at Gillespie Field Friday afternoon.
The Greyhounds, 8-10 overall and 3-4 in Landmark Conference action, used a strong pitching performance and 15 hits to earn the win. Junior Rhett Jacoby improved to 4-2 on the season, allowing an unearned run on four hits and a walk in seven innings of action. Jacoby also struck out 11 batters to become the fourth pitcher in school history to record 150 career strikeouts. Senior Dan Morrin tossed the final two innings with two hits and four strikeouts.
Moravian's bats pounded out 15 hits in the game with junior third baseman Evan Kulig going 3-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs and a double. Junior center fielder Austin Markowski was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, two runs, a double and a home run while sophomore right fielder Carmine Palummo and junior catcher Chase Rogers were each 2-for-4. Sophomore second baseman Ian Csencsits scored three times after drawing three walks in the win.
The Hounds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on when Palummo singles and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Kulig. The Greyhounds would extend the lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Senior first baseman Joey Maker led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Markowski. Senior designated hitter David Wodzisz followed with a two-RBI single.
The Blue and Grey pushed the lead to 7-0 with four more runs in the bottom of the fifth frame. Csencsits led off with a walk and scored from first on an RBI double by Kulig. After a wild pitch moved Kulig 90-feet away from scoring, junior left fielder Mike Mittl connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to chase Kulig home. After another out, Markowski connected on a solo homer, his team-leading third of the season. Wodzisz ended up being hit by a pitch, stealing second and scoring on an RBI single by Rogers.
Moravian added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when Markowski connected on a two-RBI single with the bases loaded as Csencsits and Kulig scored after drawing walks.
Juniata scored its run in the top of the seventh inning on an error. The Greyhounds would answer in the bottom half of the seven inning with the final three runs of the game. Junior shortstop Matt Stalter drew a one-out walk and scored on an RBI single by Kulig. Csencsits, who had reached on a fielder's choice, scored on an RBI single by Mittl while Kulig finished off the scoring on an RBI single from senior first baseman Logan Welles.
Moravian will return to Gillespie Field on Saturday, March 31 for the doubleheader versus Juniata in the Landmark Conference series with first pitch of the opener set for 12:30 p.m.
