BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team split its Senior Day and final Landmark Conference doubleheader of the season Saturday, falling to the University of Scranton, 7-3, in the first game before winning the second contest, 8-4, to clinch the second seed in the 2019 Landmark Conference Tournament.
The Greyhounds, who finish the regular season with a 20-19-1 overall record and a 12-6 mark in Landmark Conference action, had nine hits in the opening game with senior outfielders Mike Mittl and Austin Markowski both going 2-for-3. Sophomore Brett Moyer connected on his first home run of the season for the Blue and Grey.
Freshman Eddie Olsen made the start on the mound for the Hounds and had a pair of strikeouts in five innings of work while senior Rhett Jacoby registered two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of action. Freshman Scott Poulson had two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning.
Scranton scored twice in the top of the second inning and five more times in the top of the seventh for a 7-0 lead.
Moravian scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the seventh. Senior third baseman Tim Heard and Mittl hit back-to-back singles to start the frame before Moyer came in and connected on a three-run, pinch hit homer down the right field line.
The Greyhounds collected another 11 hits in the second game with Heard going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Junior second baseman Ian Csencsits and senior catcher Andrew Koenig were both 2-for-4 while Mittl and Moyer each drove in two runs.
Senior Evan Kulig improved to 3-2 on the mound this season as he tossed eight innings with eight strikeouts to become the 19th pitcher in school history to reach 100 career strikeouts. Senior Tyler Caraway pitched the final inning with a pair of strikeouts.
The Hounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Markowski hit a double and Heard drew a walk before Moyer connected on a two-RBI double.
Scranton answered with two runs in the fourth to tie the game and another tally in the top of the fifth to take a 3-2 edge.
The Blue and Grey knotted the contest again at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth when Kulig led off the inning with a single before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Mittl.
Moravian plated five runs in the bottom of the seventh to build and 8-3 advantage. Koenig started the frame with a double and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by junior right fielder Carmine Palummo. Markowski had an RBI fielder's choice as sophomore shortstop Michael Miceli raced across the plate. Heard added a two-RBI single down the right field line as Csencsits and Kulig crossed the plate, and Mittl drive in Markowski with an RBI sacrifice fly.
Scranton would get a run in the top of the ninth before the contest ended.
Prior to the game, the Greyhounds honored their 13 seniors including Brendon Caraway, Tyler Caraway, Joey Ferolie, Heard, Jacoby, Koenig, Kulig, Steve Lazicki, Markowski, Mittl, Billy Roethke, Chase Rogers and Kevin Shields.
The Hounds are scheduled to begin the 2019 Landmark Conference Tournament when the squad takes on third seed The Catholic University of America on Friday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Scranton.
