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Moravian Splits on First Day at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational

Junior catcher Connor Wengryn races towards first base in a game versus Elmira (N.Y.) College to open the 2023 season at Diamond Nation. Photo by Christine Fox
Junior catcher Connor Wengryn races towards first base in a game versus Elmira (N.Y.) College to open the 2023 season at Diamond Nation. Photo by Christine Fox

AUBURNDALE, Fla. --- The Moravian University baseball team split a pair of games at Lake Myrtle Park Sunday in the Greyhounds first day of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational as the Blue & Grey defeated John Jay (N.Y.) College, 22-1, before falling to the University of Dubuque (Iowa), 15-0, in a pair of games shortened to seven innings by the tournament's run-rule.

How It Happened – John Jay Game

  • The Greyhounds jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Senior second baseman Chris Pow drew a leadoff walk and scored on an RBI fielder's choice by senior first baseman Derek Holmes that came with the bases loaded. Senior shortstop Mason Fisher had walked after Pow and raced across the plate on a passed ball while Holmes and sophomore outfielder Nick Henry, who was hit by a pitch, scored on a two-RBI single by junior catcher Connor Wengryn
  • Moravian plated 10 runs in the bottom of the second to stretch the advantage to 14-0. Junior left fielder David Olsakowski was hit by a pitch to start the inning before Pow connected on a two-run homer. Fisher singled while junior designated hitter Cole Cherkas doubled and Holmes walked to load the bases for Henry, who hit an RBI single bringing in Fisher. Junior third baseman Paul Croyle added an RBI single to plate Cherkas while Wengryn had an RBI walk that scored Holmes. Junior center fielder Matt Madigan drew another bases loaded RBI walk to send Henry across the plate before Olsakowski connected on a grand slam to clear the bases with four RBIs
  • The Blue and Grey scored three more runs in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Madigan to drive in Henry and an error that allowed Madigan and Wengryn to race home
  • The Hounds made it 19-0 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth frame as Wengryn ripped an RBI single to score freshman first baseman Sean Superka, who had led off the inning with a walk, and junior outfielder Patrick Benolken scored on a wild pitch after doubling in his first at-bat of the season
  • The Bloodhounds scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to get on the scoreboard
  • Moravian finished off the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Wengryn doubled with one out and raced home on an RBI double by Madigan while freshman infielder Owen Hutchinson had an RBI single for his first career hit to score Madigan. Freshman second baseman Dimitri Laoutaris also had an RBI single for his first collegiate hit as freshman outfielder Ross Huffman scored the final run of the game
  • The contest was scheduled for nine innings but was called in the seventh inning with the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational using a run-rule to keep games on schedule
  • The Greyhounds sent five pitchers to the mound with sophomore Matt Snyder making the start and striking out five batters in 3.1 innings of action. Freshman Stefano Garofalo had one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning while senior Kenny Kunzman, junior Rony Minier and freshman Max Sponheimer each tossing one inning with Minier recording one strikeout and Sponheimer fanning two of the three batters he faced

How It Happened – Dubuque Game

  • The Spartans scored six times in the bottom of the first inning for the only runs the team needed
  • Dubuque would add a run in the third frame, two runs in the fourth, five more in the sixth inning and one in the sixth frame to finish the scoring
  • Once again, the contest was scheduled for nine innings but was called in the seventh inning with the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational using a run-rule to keep games on schedule
  • Junior Aaron Flyte made the start on the mound for the Greyhounds and tossed the first inning. Senior Garrison Koch pitched four innings in relief with one strikeout while senior Tyler Valentine had one strikeout in an inning of action

Inside the Numbers

  • Moravian had 23 hits in the two contests with Wengryn going 4-for-4 with four RBIs, a double, a stolen base and three runs scored. Pow was 3-for-4 on the day with two runs, two RBIs and his second career home run while Madigan had a pair of his with three RBIs, three runs and a double
  • Olsakowski's homer was third of his career as he added two RBIs on the day while Fisher, Henry and Benolken all had two hits with Fisher scoring twice and Henry crossing the plate three times
  • Cherkas, Croyle and Huffman all had one double for the Hounds 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

  • Monday, February 27 vs. Franklin (Ind.) College at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla., 11:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, February 28 vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Davenport, Fla., 2:45 p.m.