Moravian Tops Gwynedd Mercy in Final Game of 2022 at Gillespie Field

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University baseball squad scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat visiting Gwynedd Mercy University, 7-6 in eight innings, in non-conference action at Gillespie Field as the Greyhounds closed out their 2022 home campaign. 

How It Happened

• The Griffins opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning
• The Hounds countered with a run in the bottom of the first frame to knot the score. Junior shortstop Mason Fisher connected on a one-out double and came across the plate on an RBI double down the right field line by graduate student first baseman Brett Moyer
• Gwynedd Mercy moved back in front, 2-1, with a run in the top of the second
• Moravian answered again with four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-2 edge. Senior third baseman David Bertolotti led off the frame with a solo home run to left field, the first homer of his career. Sophomore catcher Connor Wengryn followed with a single, and senior outfielder Elias Engelhardt walked. After a sacrifice bunt and a walk from Fisher to load the bases, junior designated hitter Derek Holmes ripped a two-RBI double down the left field line to plate Wengryn and Engelhardt for the lead. Moyer picked up the final RBI of the inning with a sacrifice fly to score Fisher
• The Blue and Grey extended their advantage to 6-2 with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore outfielder Matt Madigan led off with a double down the left field line, and he raced home on an RBI single to left off Bertolotti's bat
• The Griffins scored once in the fifth and twice in the sixth inning to pull within a run at 6-5
• Gwynedd Mercy tied the contest at 6-6 in the top of the eighth inning
• Moravian answered in the bottom of the eighth frame with a run to win the game as the umpires deemed it too dark to continue after the winning run scored. Holmes put down a bunt single with one out and raced to third on a single to right by Moyer. Sophomore pinch hitter Cole Cherkas lifted a fly ball deep enough into center field for the sacrifice fly that scored Holmes to win the game
• The contest was played in a steady rain that had the game stopped numerous times to work on the field to keep it in playing condition 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had 13 hits in the game with Wengryn going 3-for-3 with a run. Moyer was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a double while Holmes posted a 3-for-5 day with two RBIs, a run and a double
• Bertolotti was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run and his homer while Fisher scored twice and added a hit. Cherkas also had an RBI while Madigan contributed a hit and a run and Engelhardt scored once
• The Greyhounds sent six pitchers to the mound with graduate student Kevin Brandt making the start in his final appearance at Gillespie Field, and he struck out three batters. Freshman Matt Snyder recorded a pair of strikeouts in two innings of work while junior Garrison Koch had one strikeout in an inning of action. Senior Leo Andreoli pitched two-thirds of an inning while junior Ethan Weber had one strikeout in an inning and a third. Junior Noah Ingalls earned his second win of the year with an inning of relief to finish the game
• The victory was the 20th of the season for the Hounds 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Thursday, April 28 at Keystone College, 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 30 at Elizabethtown College, 3:00 p.m.