BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team split a Landmark Conference doubleheader with Drew University, winning the first game 9-5 before falling 5-4 in the second contest, Saturday at Gillespie Field as the Greyhounds celebrated Senior Day.
The Hounds, now 15-13 overall and 8-6 in Landmark Conference play, had 10 hits in the opener with junior catcher Chase Rogers going 2-for-2 with a pair of runs and junior third baseman Evan Kulig posting a 2-for-3 game with five RBIs. Senior first baseman Logan Welles and junior center fielder Austin Markowski were both 2-for-4 with Welles driving in two runs and connecting on his second home run of the season.
Junior Rhett Jacoby started on the mound for Moravian and tossed 4.2 innings with four runs, three earned, on five hits and a pair of strikeouts. Senior Nicholas Mazzella came in to earn the victory in relief with just a run on a hit and three walks to go with one strikeout in 2.1 innings of action. Mazzella is now 5-3 this sprin.
The Greyhounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the opener as sophomore right fielder Carmine Palummo reached on an error, stole second base and scored on an RBI single by Kulig.
Moravian would extend the advantage to 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Welles led off with frame with a solo home run. The Hounds then pushed the edge to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning as senior designated hitter David Wodzisz drew a walk and scored on an RBI single by junior shortstop Matt Stalter. Rogers, who had singled after Wodzisz's walk, scored when Kulig drew a bases loaded walk.
The Rangers scored four times in the top of the fifth inning to knot the score at 4-4. However, the Greyhounds responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 9-4 lead. Junior left fielder Mike Mittl led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Welles. After senior pinch hitter Joey Maker reached on an error, the Blue and Grey loaded the bases before Palummo connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to plate Welles. Sophomore second baseman Ian Csencsits drew another walk to load the bases again before Kulig ripped a three-RBI single to left field to score Maker, Rogers and Csencsits.
Moravian added another 13 hits in the second game with Mittl going 3-for-4 and Kulig posting a 3-for-5 game. Freshman right fielder Thomas Phillips was 2-for-4 while Csencsits went 2-for-5.
Kulig tossed seven innings on the mound, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks to go along with five strikeouts. Junior Tyler Caraway tossed the final two innings with a run on two hits and a walk to go with one strikeout.
The Hounds jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Mittl led off with a single, and Welles walked. Wodzisz reached on an error that allowed Mittl to score before junior catcher Andrew Koenig connected on a two-RBI single to score Welles and Wodzisz.
Moravian extended the advantage to 4-0 with a run on the third inning when Markowski was hit by a pitch, moved to second on hit by Mittl and scored on an RBI single by Welles.
Drew answered with three runs in the fourth frame and one in the fifth inning to knot the score at 4-4 before plating the winning run in the top of the ninth inning.
The Greyhounds and Rangers are scheduled to play the final game of the Landmark Conference series on Sunday, April 15 with first pitch set for 12:00 p.m. at Gillespie Field in Bethlehem.
