KINGS POINT, N.Y. – The Moravian College baseball team defeated Landmark Conference foe the United States Merchant Marine Academy, 6-2, Friday afternoon. Freshman pitcher Chris Lansberry went the distance for the Greyhounds, tossing a complete game while striking out five and only allowing two runs.
Sophomore pitcher John Martin would get the nod for the Mariners. He would give up one walk, but get out of the inning unscathed.
Lansberry would get the start for Moravian. He would get a 1-2-3 inning off of two fly outs and ground out.
Senior outfielder Austin Rock started the second with a lead-off single. Classmate catcher Blake Shortall would drive Rock in a RBI single to center field for a 1-0 lead.
Senior shortstop Dave Zubia, sophomore second baseman Daniel Seitzinger, and senior first baseman Kevin O'Keefe started the top of the third by loading up the bases. Sophomore designated hitter Matthew Gutkes followed with a sacrifice fly to score Zubia. Senior third baseman Gregg Steinman then hit a RBI double down the left field line. The Greyhounds added one more run off an error to make the score 4-0.
Senior outfielder Andy Martin and sophomore second baseman Warren Hartmann started the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back singles up the middle for the Mariners. After Lansberry got a strikeout, Martin would come back with a single to right field to load the bases for USMMA. Sophomore shortstop Danny Collins then hit a sacrifice fly to score the Mariners first run of the contest.
After USMMA scored one run in the bottom of the fifth, the Greyhounds answered back when sophomore outfielder Joseph Connell got hit by a pitch. He then worked his way to third base where Seitzinger sneaked a single through the left side to make the score 5-2, Moravian.
The Greyhounds would add one more run in the top of the ninth as they would defeat the Mariners 6-2.
Steinman led the way for the Hounds, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs while Rock went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Shortall went 2-for-5 with a RBI while freshman designated hitter Ryan Luke went 2-for-2 with a run. O'Keefe, Seitzinger and Connell all had one hit.
Martin took the loss for the Mariners after going six innings and allowing four earned runs. He also went 2-for-2 at the plate while Andy Martin went 2-for-4 with a run. Collins went 1-for-3 with a RBI while senior outfielder John Hubach went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Moravian returns to action tomorrow, April 7th as they finish the three-game series against USMMA. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.
