UNION, N.J. – The Moravian College baseball team fell to nationally-ranked #3 Kean University, 11-3, Tuesday afternoon. Freshman outfielder Matt Hanson led to way for the Greyhounds, going 2-for-3.
Senior pitcher Chris Cirlincione would only allow one hit to Moravian in the top of the first as sophomore second baseman Daniel Seitzinger singled up the middle.
Sophomore outfielder Shane Alvarez would get on base after senior pitcher Kevin O'Keefe walked him. He was then sacrificed to second, and then stole third. Senior shortstop Steve Sanguiliano hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive him home to put the Cougars up 1-0 after one inning.
O'Keefe would pitch his way out of danger in the bottom of the second to keep the contest at 1-0 after an error and a wild pitch.
Hanson would start the top of the third with a lead-off single. He would advance to second, but would not score as Kean would maintain the 1-0 lead.
Kean would start the bottom of the third with sophomore second baseman Tyler Smarslok reaching base on an error. Alvarez followed that with a bunt single. Senior outfielder Vinny Galya then sacrificed both runners up a base. Smarslok then was out at home plate after being caught in a run down. Sophomore first baseman then hit a single through the right side for to drive in two runs. Senior outfielder Dylan Laguna followed that up with a RBI single to left field. Classmate catcher Eddie Jennings then hit a single to left center. Junior third baseman Nick Ramagli then reached on an error as Laguna would score to put Kean up 5-0 after three innings.
O'Keefe would have a chance to score in the top of the fourth after walking. He then stole second base and got to third on a throwing error, but was unable to get across the plate.
Freshman designated hitter Andy Lopez would start the bottom half of the fourth with a lead-off double for the Cougars. Lopez would make it to third, but O'Keefe would strike out the final batter of the inning to keep the Greyhounds deficit at 5-0 after four innings
Senior first baseman Gregg Steinman would get hit by a pitch to start the fifth. Hanson followed that with a single to put men at first and second. Both would advance up one more base on a wild pitch, but were unable to cross the plate as Kean would escape danger.
Sophomore pitcher Chris Soltys would come into pitch in the fifth with a man on second and zero outs. He would hold the Cougars at bay to keep the game at 5-0.
O'Keefe and senior outfielder Austin Rock both got on base after walking. Steinman then drove O'Keefe home with an RBI single to center field to put Moravian on the board in the sixth inning.
Kean would add six more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-1 lead. The Greyhounds would add two more runs in the top of the ninth as Kean would go onto win 11-3.
Seitzinger went 2-for-4 for Moravian while Steinamn had one RBI while going 1-for-2. O'Keefe picked up the lost, going four innings while only giving up one earned run. Sophomore pitcher Benjamin Hammel pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless ball while classmate Anthony Perez-Florido pitched one scoreless inning.
Sophomore first baseman Joe O'Connor led Kean with three RBIs, two runs scored while going 3-for-4. Alvarez went 2-for-4 with three runs score and two RBIs while Jennings went 3-for-4 with one RBI. Cirlincione picked up the win, going seven innings while only allowing one run and striking out four.
Moravian returns to action on Sunday March 4th as they start its seven game road trip at the Snowbird Classic in Florida. They open against nationally-ranked #10 Heidelberg University on March 4th. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
