FLEMINGTON, N.J. --- The Moravian University baseball squad opened the 2023 season with a sweep of Elmira (N.Y.) College, winning 5-3 and 6-4, in a non-conference doubleheader at Diamond Nation to give first-year Head Coach Douglas Coe his first two career victories. 

How It Happened – Game #1

• The Greyhounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Junior shortstop Mason Fisher and junior designated hitter Cole Cherkas each hit one-out singles before senior first baseman Derek Holmes ripped an RBI single up the middle to bring Fisher across the plate with the first run of the season. After an out, sophomore right fielder Nick Henry connected on a ground-rule RBI double to left field as Cherkas crossed home
• The Soaring Eagles cut the Blue & Grey lead to 2-1 with a run in the top of the second
• The Hounds responded with three runs in the bottom of the second frame to extend the advantage to 5-1. Junior third baseman Paul Croyle singled with one out and reached second on an error with two outs on. Fisher drew a walk before Cherkas connected on a two-RBI double to right center field to bring Croyle and Fisher home. Holmes followed with another RBI single up the middle as Cherkas raced across the plate from second base
• Elmira scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings but would not get any closer
• Junior David Ciaccio started on the mound for Moravian had recorded four strikeouts in three innings of work while seniors Garrison Koch and Andrew Connallon each had two strikeouts with Koch tossing 1.1 innings and Connallon tossing 1.2 innings and earning the win. Senior Matt Ciarrrocchi pitched two-thirds of an inning while senior Ethan Weber struck out the only batter he faced for his second career save

How It Happened – Game #2

• The Soaring Eagles scored first in the second contest with a run in the top of the second inning
• The Blue & Grey evened the score in the bottom half of the second senior second baseman Chris Pow reached on a fielder's choice and raced across the plate on a two-out RBI single up the middle from Croyle
• The Hounds took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third frame without a hit. Junior left fielder David Olsakowski drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, was balked to third base and raced home on another wild pitch
• Elmira tied the game at 2-2 with a solo home run in the top of the fourth
• Moravian answered once again with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning to move back ahead 4-2. Holmes led off the frame with a solo home run down the right field line, the sixth homer of his career. Croyle would reach on an infield single with two outs and move into scoring position on an error. Freshman designated hitter Sean Superka followed with an RBI double to left center field as Croyle raced home
• The Soaring Eagles knotted the contest once again with two runs in the top of the fifth to make it 4-4
• The Greyhounds plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth for the final score of 6-4. Junior center fielder Matt Madigan drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a single by Fisher. Cherkas also singled through the right side as Madigan trotted across the plate on the RBI hit with the winning run. Fisher scored an insurance run on an RBI fielder's choice off Holmes' bat
• Senior Noah Ingalls started on the mound for the Hounds and had three strikeouts in four innings of action before Weber came in for an inning and added a win to his earlier save. Freshman Ross Huffman struck out two batters over the final two innings and also snagged a line drive right back at him to pick up his first collegiate save 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had 16 hits in the doubleheader with Holmes going 3-for-6 with four RBIs, a run and a homer. Croyle was 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while Fisher was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and Cherkas had a 3-for-7 day with three RBIs, two runs and a double
• Madigan, Pow and Olsakowski each crossed the plate once while Henry was 2-for-6 with a double and an RBI. Superka and junior catcher Connor Wengryn had the other two hits with each connecting for one base hit on the afternoon
• The squads played a pair of seven inning games with Elmira on its way to North Carolina after the game for a weekend tournament. The two contests will be the only two non-nine inning games the Greyhounds play in 2023

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Sunday, February 26 vs. John Jay (N.Y.) College at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Auburndale, Fla., 9:00 a.m.
• Sunday, February 26 vs. University of Dubuque (Iowa) at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Auburndale, Fla., 12:30 p.m.