UNION, N.J. – The Moravian College baseball team fell to nationally-ranked No. 10 Kean University, 6-0, Tuesday evening.
Freshman pitcher Emilio Calderon would get the start for the Cougars. He allowed a double to sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson before getting out of the inning.
Freshman pitcher Anthony Zaloga earned the start for Moravian. He struck out his first collegiate batter. After an error by the shortstop, he forced a line out and ground to get out of the inning.
The Greyhounds would get two men on base in the top of the second after getting hit by a pitch, but were unable to push the runs across the plate.
In the bottom of the second, Zaloga struck out the first batter then forced a ground out. Sophomore outfielder Anthony Fischetti and sophomore catcher James Lyczkowski reached on back-to-back errors. Junior second baseman Tyler Smarslok put Kean on top 1-0 after a double to left center to score Fischetti for the unearned run. Zaloga struck out the last batter to get out of the inning.
Sophomore shortstop Colin Case started the third with a single down the left field line. Junior outfielder Joseph Connell then hit a single, but Case was out at second. Connell then stole second base, but Calderon got out of the inning with the 1-0 lead intact.
In the bottom of the fourth, junior second baseman Daniel Seitzinger hit a two single to first base. Freshman catcher Mike Roethke added a single to left center before Calderon forced the third out by a ground out to end the rally.
In the bottom of the seventh, junior pitcher Chris Soltys came into pitch for Zaloga. Junior outfielder Shane Alvarez and Fischetti started with back-to-back singles. Soltys struck out the next batter before Smarslok reached on a fielder's choice while Alverez was thrown out at home by Seitzinger. Smarslok then stole second, and freshman outfielder Ryan Kelley single to second base to force in the second run of the game. Kelley then stole second, and sophomore third baseman Andy Lopez followed with a triple to right field to score two runs for the 4-0 lead.
The Cougars added two more runs before it was over to win 6-0.
Zaloga took the loss after going six innings while striking out six, and allowing one unearned run. Hanson went 1-for-3 with a double while Connell went 1-for-3 with a stolen base for the Greyhounds. Moravian had six other players each have one hit in the contest.
Calderon earned the victory for Kean after going 8.1 innings while striking out four. Alverez went 2-for-4 while Fischetti went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Lopez had a triple and two RBIs while Smarslok went 1-for-4 with a run and a RBI.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Sunday, March 3rd when the squad battles Heidelberg (Ohio) University in Port Charlotte, Florida at 3:00 p.m. as the Greyhounds begin a week-long trip to the Snowbird Classic for Spring Break.
