KINGS POINT, N.Y. – The Moravian College baseball team fell to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Greyhounds dropped the first game, 6-2, and fell in the second game, 8-7.
In game one, senior pitcher Andy Martin would start the game on the Mound for the Mariners. He would get out of the inning off a double play ball and a ground out.
Senior pitcher Brendan Close got the nod for Moravian. He would allow one hit, but leave the inning unscathed.
Senior outfielder Austin Rock and classmate third baseman Gregg Steinman would get back-to-back singles with one out in the second. Senior catcher Blake Shortall then got a two-out knock to center to score Rock for an early 1-0 lead.
Freshman outfielder Matt Hanson got a two-out bunt single in the fourth. Shortall followed with a double to right field to score Hanson to make the score 2-0.
A big fifth inning from USMMA would put them on top 6-2 as sophomore shortstop Danny Collins started it with a lead-off single. Junior outfielder Dustin Thomsen followed with a double to right field. Close would get the next batter to ground out back to him. Freshman catcher Jacob Wood then hit a single to right field to score both runners. The Mariners would go onto add four more runs.
The Greyhounds would get a hit in the seventh, but fall to USMMA 6-2.
Close took the loss for Moravian after going six innings. That is the first loss for Close since the 2010 NCAA Division III Tournament. Shortall went 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Hanson went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Andy Martin picked up the win for the Mariners after going seven innings, striking out six and allowing two runs. Sophomore second baseman Warren Hartmann led the way for USMMA, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Wood went 1-for-3 with two RBIs while Thomsen went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
In game two of the doubleheader, senior shortstop Dave Zubia would get a lead-off ground rule double. Freshman second baseman Colin Case then reached on a dropped ball by the center fielder. Rock would put home the first run of the game on a base hit to the shortstop. Freshman third baseman Ryan Luke followed with a double through the left side to score Case. Freshman designated hitter Chris Lansberry then hit a two RBI single to center field as Moravian would take a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the first.
Sophomore pitcher Thomas Mariano would get the nod for the Greyhounds in the second game. The Mariners would get all four runs back in the bottom of the first off of five hits and a Moravian error.
Three singles in a row from Hartmann, freshman outfielder Cameron Stadele and sophomore first baseman John Martin would break the tie and give the Mariners a 5-4 lead in the bottom the third. Thomsen followed with a home run to left field to make the score 8-4.
Moravian would get a run back after a RBI single from Rock that scored Zubia to make the score 8-5, USMMA after the top of the fourth.
Case started the sixth with a lead-off single. Sophomore outfielder Joseph Connell then walked, and Rock followed up with a double down the left field line to score Case. Luke then grounded out, but Connell would score to make the score 8-7, USMMA. The Mariners would go onto win by the score.
Mariano earned his first loss of the season for the Greyhounds. Zubia went 3-for-5 in the contest with two runs scored while Rock went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Luke went 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Lansberry went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Thomsen picked up the win for USMMA after going fiving innings and giving up four runs. John Martin went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs while Thomsen went 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs. Hartmann went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI while Stadele went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Moravian returns to action on Tuesday, April 10th as they host non-conference opponent Albright College. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
