READING, Pa. – The Moravian College baseball team fell to Alvernia University, 11-2, in non-conference play Wednesday afternoon. Freshman pitcher Steve Price would go eight innings for the Crusaders while striking out three for the victory.
Price would start the contest with a 1-2-3 inning off of two ground outs and a strike out. Senior pitcher Kevin O'Keefe would get the nod for Moravian as he gave up a lead-off single in the first. O'Keefe would end up stranding the runner at third to leave the first unscathed.
O'Keefe would start the second inning with a lead-off single. Senior designated hitter Austin Rock then doubled to center field. Classmate third baseman Gregg Steinman followed with a RBI single to center. Senior catcher Blake Shortall then hit into a double play, but Rock would score to put Moravian up 2-0.
Alvernia would respond in the bottom half of the second after freshman infielder Richie Ricciardi would reach after getting hit by a pitch. Junior catcher Kevin Bailey then hit a single to right field that scored Ricciardi after an error by the right fielder. Senior infielder Aaron Carman then reached on an error by the shortstop. Junior infielder Cody Younker followed with a two RBI triple to right field. Classmate outfielder Leon Stimpson then drove him home with a sacrifice fly to put the Crusaders up 4-2 after two innings.
Alvernia would extend the score to 5-2 after a two-out single by sophomore infielder Matt Paterson would set Bailey up for a RBI single to left center.
O'Keefe would only allow one hit in innings four and five to Alvernia to keep the contest at 5-2.
Moravian would have an opportunity to score in the sixth, but were unable to convert after getting freshman Justin Pilchman and senior shortstop Dave Zubia got on base out. That would be it for the Greyhounds as Alvernia would tack on six more runs to win 11-2.
Steinman led Moravian with one RBI while going 1-for-3. O'Keefe and Rock both went 1-for-4 with one run scored while Zuvia went 1-for-4. O'Keefe picked up the loss after going five innings and striking out three.
Stimpson led the Crusaders with two RBIs while going 3-for-5. Bailey went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs while Younker went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Carman had two RBIs and two runs scored while going 1-for-3.
Moravian returns to action Saturday, March 17th as they open up Landmark Conference play with a doubleheader versus The Catholic University of America. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Gillispie Field.
