GLASSBORO, N.J. --- The Moravian College baseball team used a six-run third inning to build a 7-1 lead versus No. 5 Rowan University in non-conference action on the road Wednesday, but the Profs would battle back and defeat the Greyhounds, 9-8, on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Hounds, now 14-12 this spring, had 11 hits in the contest with sophomore outfielder Thomas Philipps going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a pair of doubles. Junior second baseman Ian Csencsits was 2-for-5 while sophomore designated hitter Brett Moyer had a pair of RBIs and a double.
Senior Brendon Caraway tossed the first four innings for the Blue and Grey with three strikeouts while freshman Eddie Olsen registered one strikeout in his inning on the mound. Senior Rhett Jacoby also tossed an inning while junior Connor Morro had a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 innings of action.
Moravian jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when senior third baseman Tim Heard led off the contest with a single and moved to third on a single by Csencsits and an error. Senior first baseman Evan Kulig hit into a double play as Heard raced across the plate.
Rowan answered with a run in the bottom of the second to knot the score at 1-1.
The Greyhounds scored six times in the top the third, sending 11 batters to the plate in the inning. Philipps led off with a double and moved to third on a bunt single by sophomore shortstop Michael Miceli. Heard put down an RBI sacrifice bunt to score Phillips while Miceli raced in from second base on an RBI single by Csencsits. Kulig followed with a single and senior center fielder Austin Markowski drew a walk to load the bases before Moyer connected on a two RBI single. Senior catcher Chase Rogers walked to load the bases again before Phillips ripped a two-RBI single up the middle for the 7-1 lead.
The Profs scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Moravian lead to 7-5.
The Hounds responded in the top of the fifth with another run for an 8-5 edge. Rogers singled with two outs and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches before Philipps connected on an RBI double.
Rowan would score three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 8-8 before winning the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, April 13 in a Landmark Conference doubleheader at The Catholic University of America beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
