WINTER HAVEN, Fla. --- The Moravian University baseball squad rallied from a four-run first inning deficit to take a lead, but the Greyhounds fell to Franklin (Ind.) College, 9-5, at the Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven. Florida as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Monday afternoon,

How It Happened

• The Grizzlies scored four times in the top of the first inning with two of the four runs coming with two outs
• Moravian responded with a five-run home half of the fifth inning to move ahead 5-4. Junior left fielder Patrick Benolken led off with a bunt single, and junior center fielder Matt Madigan also reached on an infield single. Senior shortstop Mason Fisher connected on an RBI single that scored Benolken while junior designated hitter Cole Cherkas had an RBI groundout that chased Madigan home. Senior first baseman Derek Holmes ripped an RBI single through the left side to plate Fisher while Holmes raced home from first on an RBI triple by sophomore right fielder Nick Henry that tied the contest at 4-4. Henry came home with the go-ahead run when junior catcher Connor Wengryn reached on an error.
• Franklin had another four-run inning in the top of the seventh to retake the advantage, and the Grizzlies scored the final run of the contest in the top of the ninth frame
• The Hounds used seven pitchers in the contest with senior Noah Ingalls making the start and recording one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. Senior Andrew Connallon had four strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief work while senior AJ Gordan struck out two batters in one inning. Freshman Max Sponeheimer registered one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning while senior Matt Ciarrocchi had three strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Junior Rony Minier had one strikeout in a third of an inning while sophomore Chris Medei tossed the final third of an inning in the contest

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had 10 hits with Madigan going 3-for-4 with a run and a double
• Henry had a 2-for-3 afternoon with a run, an RBI and a triple while Fisher, Holmes, Benolken, senior second baseman Chris Pow and junior third baseman Paul Croyle all had one hit with Fisher, Holmes and Cherkas recording one RBI apiece

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Tuesday, February 28 vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Davenport, Fla., 2:45 p.m.
• Thursday, March 2 vs. Albion (Mich.) College (DH) at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Auburndale, Fla., 11:30 a.m.