MADISON, N.J. --- The Moravian College baseball team opened its 2019 Landmark Conference season with a doubleheader split at Drew University Saturday afternoon, winning the opener 5-3 in 10 innings before falling 5-2 in the nightcap.
The Greyhounds had eight hits in the opening contest with senior third baseman Tim Heard going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and junior right fielder Carmine Palummo going 2-for-5. Seniors center fielder Mike Mittl and left fielder Austin Markowski both scored two runs.
Senior Rhett Jacoby made the start on the mound and allowed a run on three hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings of action. Junior Connor Morro tossed 2.2 innings with two runs on five hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts while senior Tyler Caraway earned his first win of the season as he allowed a hit and a walk to go with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of action.
The Hounds took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second in the opener when Mittl walked, stole second base and raced home on an RBI single from junior catcher Ian Luberti.
Moravian extended its lead to 2-0 in the fifth frame when sophomore shortstop Michael Miceli singled with one out and scored on an error by the Rangers.
Drew scored since runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the score at 2-2. Under the Landmark Conference baseball rules that went into effect in 2018, the game, originally scheduled for seven innings, immediately became the nine-inning game of the doubleheader at this point while the second game, slate for nine, would be shortened to seven innings.
The Blue and Grey retook the lead, 3-2, in the top of the eighth inning. Markowski walked and would race home on an RBI sacrifice fly from Heard.
The Rangers answered with a run in the bottom of the ninth to knot the score and push the contest into the 10th inning.
Moravian pushed three runs across the plate in the top of the tenth to earn the victory. Junior second baseman Ian Csencsits drew a walk and senior first baseman Evan Kulig singled. Markowski drew a walk to load the bases but back-to-back fielder's choices had the bases still loaded and the score still tied at 3-3 with two outs. Heard came up and ripped a two-RBI single through the left side as Mittl and Markowski crossed the plate.
The Hounds were limited to five hits in the second game while sending three pitchers to the mound. Senior Brendon Caraway made the start and tossed 3.2 inning with a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore Rodney Berger and freshman Scott Poulson both made appearances with Poulson striking out four batters in 2.1 innings of work.
Drew took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning of the second contest.
The Greyhounds would respond with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth frame to take a 2-1 lead. Csencsits led off with a single, and Markowski singled with one out to move Csencsits to third. After Markowski stole second base, Mittl hit an RBI sacrifice fly to bring Csencsits home. Sophomore first baseman Brett Moyer followed with an RBI single to bring Markowski across the plate and give the Blue and Grey a 2-1 edge.
The Rangers would score four times in the bottom of the fourth to move back ahead 5-2 with the final runs of the afternoon.
Moravian will close out the three-game Landmark Conference series at Drew on Sunday, March 17 with a single game beginning at 12:00 p.m.
