MADISON, N.J. --- The Moravian University baseball team broke a tie in the top of the ninth inning to open the 2023 Landmark Conference season with an 8-7 victory at Drew University Friday afternoon in the first game of a conference series this weekend.

How It Happened

• The Rangers scored twice in the bottom of the second inning to open a 2-0 lead
• The Greyhounds responded with four runs in the top of the third frame to move ahead, 4-2. Junior third baseman Paul Croyle and junior catcher Connor Wengryn reached on errors to start the inning before junior left fielder David Olsakowski was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Junior center fielder Patrick Benolken hit an RBI sacrifice fly to bring Croyle across the play, and senior shortstop Mason Fisher drew a walk to load the bases again. Senior second baseman Chris Pow ripped a two-RBI double to left field as Wengryn and Olsakowski scored while senior designated hitter Derek Holmes hit an RBI groundout to bring in Fisher
• Moravian scored three times in the top of the fifth to extend the advantage to 7-2. Benolken led off the frame with a single and Fisher reached on an error before Holmes ripped a two-RBI double down the right field line. Holmes would scamper home when Croyle reached on an error later in the inning
• Drew countered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Hounds' lead to 7-5
• The Rangers scored twice more in the home half of the sixth inning to knot the score at 7-7
• Moravian retook the lead in the top of the ninth inning with a run as Holmes was hit by a pitch and raced around from first base on an RBI double down the left field line by sophomore right fielder Nick Henry
• Drew would get the tying run to second base in the bottom of the ninth when sophomore Chris Medei came in to strike out the final batter and seal the win for the Blue & Grey 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had nine hits in the contest with junior first baseman Cole Cherkas going 3-for-5. Henry and Benolken were both 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Henry added the game-winning double while Benolken scored once
• Holmes finished with three RBIs, and he scored twice while recording a double for his only hit while Pow had a double and two RBIs
• Fisher crossed the plate twice while Wengryn and Olsakowski scored runs for the Hounds
• Freshman Ross Huffman started on the mound for the Blue & Grey and had two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of action while senior Ethan Weber had two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work. Senior Andrew Connallon earned his second victory of the season with a 2.2-inning appearance while Medei recorded his second save of the year, striking out the only batter he faced

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Saturday, March 18 at Drew University (DH), 12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, March 30 vs. Keystone College, 4:00 p.m.