BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team took both games of a Landmark Conference doubleheader from visiting Juniata College at Gillespie Field Saturday afternoon, winning 15-8 and 7-2, to complete a three-game series sweep of the Eagles.
The Greyhounds, now 10-10 overall and 5-4 in Landmark Conference action, had 20 hits in the opener led by senior left fielder Mike Mittl, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Senior third baseman Evan Kulig was 2-for-2 with three runs and an RBI while sophomore second baseman Ian Csencsits and junior center fielder Austin Markowski were each 2-for-3 with Csencsits adding three runs and a triple and Markowski driving in three runs. Junior catcher Andrew Koenig and junior shortstop Matt Stalter were both 2-for-4 with Koenig scoring twice and Stalter driving in two runs and adding a double.
Senior Nicholas Mazzella improved to 4-2 on the mound this season as he allowed six runs on five hits and six walks to go with two strikeouts in 5.1 innings of action. Sophomore Connor Morro tossed the final 1.2 innings with two runs, one earned, on three hits to go with a pair of strikeouts.
Moravian jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Csencsits hit an infield single with one out and Kulig singled to move Csencstis to third. Csencsits crossed the plate on balk while Kulig raced home on a delayed steal after Markowski walked and stole second.
Juniata answered in the top of the second inning with a run to cut the Greyhounds' edge to 2-1. The Hounds answered with five runs in the bottom half of the frame to extend the lead to 7-1. Stalter ripped an RBI double down the left field line to score Koenig, who had reached on a fielder's choice. Palummo followed with an RBI double to score Stalter, and Kulig ripped an RBI single after the second out of the inning. Mittl followed with an infield single before Markowski connected on a two-RBI single as Kulig and Mittl crossed the plate.
The Blue and Grey scored another run in the bottom of the third inning to make it an 8-1 lead. Senior first baseman Logan Welles reach on an error and scored on an RBI single from Stalter.
Moravian would push the lead to 11-1 with three runs in the fourth inning. Csencsits led off with a triple and Kulig followed with a walk. Mittl followed with an RBI single as Csencsits scored, and Markowski ripped an RBI single to score Kulig. Senior designated hitter David Wodzisz connected on an RBI single to send Markowski across the plate.
Juniata scored five times in the top of the sixth inning to cut the Hounds' advantage to 11-6, but Moravian answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 15-6 edge. Senior first baseman Clay Weidemoyer led off with a double and scored on an RBI single from Koenig. After an out, senior right fielder La'Ron Smith connected on an RBI double to score Koenig, and Smith eventually raced home on a wild pitch. Csencsits drew a walk and scored on an RBI single from senior third baseman Joey Ferolie.
The Eagles scored twice more in the top of the seventh to finish off the scoring in the opener.
Kulig would get the start on the mound in game two and turn in the best outing of his career with a personal-best 12 strikeouts to go with no walks, two hits and two runs, one earned, in seven innings of work. Junior Tyler Caraway tossed the final two innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts.
Moravian added another nine hits in the second contest with Csencsits going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Markowski connecting on his team-leading fourth home run of the season as he moved into moved into seventh in school history with 11 career homers.
Juniata would take a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the first inning.
The Blue and Grey answered in the bottom of the third inning with a run in the bottom half of the third frame. Palummo reached on a bunt single with one out and stole both second and third bases before scoring on an RBI fielder's choice off of Kulig's bat.
The Greyhounds would take the lead for good in the fourth inning as Markowski led off the inning with a solo home run down the left field line that hooked around the foul pole, just staying fair.
Moravian scored five times in the bottom of the sixth for a 7-1 advantage. Markowski draw a two-out walk, and senior first baseman Joey Maker followed with a single. Stalter connected on an RBI single to score Markowski while junior catcher Steve Lazicki hit an RBI infield single as Maker raced home. After an infield single by Ferolie loaded the bases, Palummo was hit by a pitch to push Stalter across the plate. Csencsits followed with a two-RBI single as Lazicki and Ferolie raced home.
Juniata added a run in the top of the seventh to finish off the scoring for the doubleheader.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 3 when they continue a five-game home stand with a non-conference contest versus Albright College beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Gillespie Field.
