HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – The Moravian College baseball team fell to Hampden-Sydney College, 2-1, in the Ty Cobb Classic on Sunday afternoon. Junior pitcher Thomas Mariano went six innings while allowing two runs (0 earned runs).
Sophomore third baseman Ryan Luke got the first hit of the game for Moravian with a two-out double in the first inning. Classmate outfielder Matt Hanson followed with another double to drive Luke in for the quick 1-0 lead after the first. Freshman pitcher Teddy West would force the final out to get out of the inning for Hampden-Sydney.
Mariano received the start on the mound for the Greyhounds. He struck out one, hit a batter, and then forced two ground outs to start the game.
The Tigers threatened to score in the bottom of the second after junior outfielder Andrew Tucker singled and freshman catcher Jack Elliot walked, but Mariano forced two fly outs to get out of the inning.
Junior outfielder Joseph Connell started the top of the third with a lead-off double to right center, but the Greyhounds were unable to push him across the plate.
Hampden-Sydney would knot the contest at one in the bottom of the third. It started with Sophomore outfielder Christian Hamlett reaching on an error. He then advanced to third after a fly out and ground out. Classmate first baseman Jeff Gray would drive him in with a single up the middle. Mariano forced a fly out to end the inning.
The Tigers started the sixth inning with a single by Gray. Gray would then get thrown out by junior catcher Matthew Gutkes trying to steal second. Tucker then singled to right. Mariano forced a fly out for the second out of the inning. Elliot doubled to right center, but Hanson would throw out Tucker at the plate to keep the score at one while ending the inning.
Junior second baseman Daniel Seitzinger got on base in the top of the seventh after an error by the third baseman. He then stole second, but junior pitcher Aaron Stidham struck out the final batter of the inning to maintain the tie ball game.
Senior designated hitter Patrick Kuhns started the bottom of the seventh with a double for the Tigers. Junior Kyle Lung then pinch ran for Kuhns. Freshman pitcher Jimmy McCarthy came in for relief for Mariano. Lung was then sacrificed over to third. Lung then scored while Hamlett reached base after an error by the first baseman to give Hampden-Sydney a 2-1 lead. McCarthy forced a popup and a fly out to get out of the inning.
In the top of the eighth, senior Dan Nicoll came into pitch for Stidham. He walked sophomore shortstop Colin Case to start the inning. Case moved to second after a sacifrice bunt by Luke. Case moved up to third after a ground out by Hanson. Nicoll would strike out the next batter to get out of the inning.
Senior pitcher Luke Rabiej would start on the mound for the Tigers in the top of the ninth. He got the first two outs before giving up a single to junior infielder Kyle Spence. Rabiej forced a ground out for the final out of the game and the save.
Hanson went 1-for-3 with a RBI and a double while Connell had a double. Luke went 1-for-3 with a run scored while Spence, Seitzinger and junior outfielder Harrison Fonteix all had one hit.
West pitched 5.1 innings while allowing one run for Hampden-Sydney. Stidham earned the win after going 1.2 innings and striking out three. Gray went 2-for-4 with a RBI while Elliot went 2-for-3 with a double. Tucker went 2-for-4 while Kuhns went 1-for-3 with a double.
Moravian returns to the field on Tuesday, February 26th as they travel to nationally-ranked No. 7 Kean University. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
