INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Moravian College baseball team is ranked in 13 different statistical categories, and seven players are ranked in various categories as well. Topping it all off, the Greyhounds are tied for second in NCAA Division III with 421 hits, and they're tied for second with 87 doubles as a team.
Senior shortstop Dave Zubia (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) is ranked in nine different categories. He is tied for third with 48 runs scored, 11th with 1.41 runs per game, tied for 22nd with 12 hit by pitches, 26th in toughest to strikeout with 31.1 plate appearances per strikeout, tied for 31st with 53 hits, 32nd with a 0.523 on-base percentage, tied for 42nd with 13 doubles, tied for 43rd with 78 total bases and is 66th in the nation with a .424 batting average.
Senior pitcher Brendan Close (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) is tied for 11th in the country with six complete games, 19th with 0.92 walks allowed per nine innings and is tied for 32nd with six victories. On the season, Close is 6-1 with 2.76 ERA and 44 strikeouts and five walks in 49 innings.
Senior first baseman Kevin O'Keefe (Alexandria, VA/Bishop Ireton) is tied for 42nd in Division III with 13 doubles, tied for 45th with 35 RBIs and tied for 47th with 50 hits. This spring, O'Keefe is hitting .382 with 38 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.
Senior designated hitter/outfielder Austin Rock (Arlington, VA/Flour Bluff (TX)) is tied for 23rd in the nation with 14 doubles and his 36 RBIs ranks him tied for 36th. This year, Rock is hitting .367 with 28 runs and four home runs.
Senior pitcher Kyle Longernecker (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) ranks fifth in the country with 0.47 walks allowed per nine innings and 48th with a 1.88 ERA. On the season, Longernecker is is 3-3 with 26 strikeouts and two walks in 38.1 innings.
Freshman pitcher Chris Lansberry (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) is tied for 32nd with six victories this season. Lansberry is 6-1 with a 2.91 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 34 innings.
Sophomore catcher Matthew Gutkes (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) ranks 41st with four sacrifice flies this spring. Gutkes is hitting .316 with two home runs, 20 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
In the other team categories, Moravian ranks fifth in runs (285), eighth in batting average (.347), ninth in doubles per game (2.49), 17th in stolen bases (79), tied for 18th in hit by pitches (52), 19th in walks allowed per nine innings (2.61), 25th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.54), 29th in runs per game (8.1), 31st in slugging percentage (.462), 34th in stolen bases per game (2.26) and 43rd in fielding percentage at .964.
The Greyhounds returns to action on Wednesday, April 25th for a non-conference game versus Neumann University. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at the Camden Riversharks Stadium in Camden, N.J.
