BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team rallied in the ninth inning and walked off with a 5-4, 11-inning win in the second game to earn a split with visiting Susquehanna University in a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Gillespie Field Saturday with the River Hawks winning the opener 5-3.
The Greyhounds, now 11-9 overall and 6-2 in Landmark Conference play, had 10 hits in the opening game with senior first baseman Evan Kulig going 3-for-4. Senior center fielder Austin Markowski was 2-for-3 with his first homer of the season while junior second baseman Ian Csencsits went 2-for-4.
Senior Brendon Caraway made the start on the mound for Moravian, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks to go with one strikeout in 5.1 innings of action. Senior Tyler Caraway tossed the final 1.2 innings and allowed a hit and two walks.
The River Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning of the opener.
Moravian responded with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth frame. Markowski connected on a two-out home run to left center, his 16th career homer to move into sole possession of second place in the Greyhounds' record book. Sophomore designated hitter Brett Moyer followed with a single down the first field line before sophomore shortstop Michael Miceli ripped an RBI double to right center as Moyer raced all the way home.
Susquehanna scored single runs in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to push its advantage to 5-2.
The Blue and Grey scored once in the bottom of the sixth when Kulig connected on a leadoff double and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Moyer to finish the scoring in the first game.
The Hounds collected nine hits in the second game with Miceli going 2-for-3 with two runs including the game-winner. Kulig and senior left fielder Mike Mittl were both 2-for-5 in the victory.
Freshman Scott Poulson made the start on the hill in the second contest, allowing a pair of runs on six hits and a walk to go with one strikeout in five innings of action. Senior Rhett Jacoby tossed four innings of relief with two runs on four hits and three walks to go with a pair of strikeouts while junior Connor Morro picked up the win with two innings of scoreless relief with just one hit allowed.
The River Hawks once again jumped out to a lead with two runs in the top of the second inning.
Moravian answered with two runs in the fourth inning. Mittl led off with a single, stole second base and scored on an RBI double down the left field line by Moyer. After a bunt single by Miceli put Moyer on third, senior catcher Chase Rogers connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to bring in Moyer with the tying run.
The Greyhounds would pull ahead, 3-2, with a run on the bottom of the fifth frame. Senior third baseman Tim Heard led off the inning with a triple and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Csencsits.
Susquehanna knotted the score with a run in the top of the seventh and moved ahead 4-3 with another run in the top of the eighth.
Moravian tied the game in the bottom of the ninth when Miceli tripled down the right field line with one out and scored on an RBI pinch hit single by freshman AJ Brosious.
After Morro's two scoreless extra innings on the mound, Miceli was hit by a pitch to being the bottom of the 11th inning. Junior catcher Ian Luberti put down a sacrifice bunt towards first base, and Miceli alertly rounded second base and headed toward third with no one covering the base. A rushed throw by the River Hawks sailed into left field and allowed Miceli to pop up and race home with the winning run.
The squads will meet for the final game of the Landmark Conference series on Sunday, March 31 with game time moved to 2:00 p.m. at Gillespie Field in Bethlehem.
