JERSEY CITY, N.J. --- The Moravian University baseball squad had an early five-run lead but ended up falling to host New Jersey University, 17-9, in non-conference action Tuesday. 

How It Happened

• The Greyhounds jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior center fielder Patrick Benolken led off with a single while junior shortstop Mason Fisher reached on an error. Junior first baseman Cole Cherkas connected on an RBI double to left center that chase Benolken home. After senior designated hitter Derek Holmes was intentionally walk, Fisher raced across the plate on a wild pitch. Sophomore right fielder Nick Henry hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Cherkas while senior second baseman Chris Pow ripped an RBI double to right center as Holmes came home
• The Gothic Knights pushed a run across the plate in the bottom of the second to make 4-1
• The Blue & Grey responded in the top of the third inning with a pair of runs to stretch the advantage to 6-1. Holmes led off with a single and raced around the bases on an RBI triple from Henry to right field. Pow followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to being in Henry
• NJCU plated seven runs in the bottom half of the third frame to move ahead 8-6
• Moravian got one run back in the top of the fourth when Holmes connected on an RBI single to right field that scored Benolken, who had walked, to cut the score to 8-7
• The Gothic Knights added another eight runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 16-7
• The Hounds scored once in the top of the fifth inning when Pow reached on an error to begin the frame and then scored on an RBI sacrifice fly off Benolken's bat
• NJCU pushed a run across the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 17-8
• Moravian finished off the scoring with a run in the top of the ninth frame. Henry hit a one out since and raced across the plate on an RBI groundout by junior catcher Connor Wengryn. with the bases loaded 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had 10 hits with Henry, Holmes and Pow all going 2-for-4 with Holmes and Henry each scoring two runs and Henry and Pow adding two RBIs. Henry also had a triple in the contest while Pow registered a double and scored once and Holmes had one RBI
• Benolken had a hit and scored twice while Fisher and Cherkas each had one hit and one run with Cherkas adding an RBI and a double. Wengryn also contributed one hit and an RBI
• Junior David Ciaccio made the start on the mound and registered one strikeout in his two innings of action. Senior AJ Gordon tossed two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout while senior Ethan Weber pitched one inning. Senior Andrew Connallon posted a strikeout in 1.1 innings while senior Noah Ingalls added two strikeouts in two innings of action. Sophomore Matt Snyder tossed the final inning

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Saturday, March 11 at No. 2 Salisbury (Md.) University, 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, March 12 at No. 2 Salisbury (Md.) University, 10:00 a.m.