WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Moravian College baseball team opened the 2013 Landmark Conference season with a 5-3 victory over The Catholic University of America Friday afternoon at Talbot Field.
The Greyhounds won their opening conference game for the fourth straight season, and are now 4-2 in Landmark Conference openers since the conference began in 2008. Moravian improves to 7-5 overall while Catholic falls to 10-4 this year.
The Greyhounds jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Sophomore third baseman Ryan Luke led off with a double and scored on a one-out RBI single from freshman first baseman Charles Savite. Freshman designated hitter Alex Bull followed with another single before freshman catcher Mike Roethke connected on a two-RBI double, scoring Savite and Bull.
The Cardinals answered with a run in the bottom of the second on a one-out solo home run to left field by sophomore second baseman Nick Clary.
Moravian got the run back in the top of the third inning for a 4-1 lead when junior second baseman Daniel Seitzinger led off with a single before sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson doubled. Seitzinger scored on an RBI single by Luke before a double play ended the inning.
Neither team was able to push any runs across the plate until Catholic scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Greyhounds' advantage to 4-3. Senior catcher Mark Kalotits and Clary reached on errors by Moravian before a two RBI double by senior first baseman Chris McCloud pulled the Cardinals within one.
The Greyhounds scored again in the top of the eighth inning to retake a two-run lead at 5-3. Savite doubled with one out and scored on an RBI double by sophomore designated hitter Justin Pilchman.
Moravian had a 16-9 advantage in hits with freshman outfielder Cameron Leon going four-for-four. Luke was three-for-five at the plate while Savite was two-for-four with a pair of runs scored for the Greyhounds. McCloud was three-for-four to lead Catholic.
Sophomore Chris Lansberry, the reigning Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, improved to 2-0 on the mound this season, allowing three runs, just one earned, on seven hits and a walk to go with four strikeouts in seven innings of action. Junior Ben Hammel allowed one hit in the eighth inning for Moravian before junior Chris Soltys earned his first save of the season with a strikeout and a hit allowed in the ninth inning.
Catholic used three pitchers in the game with sophomore starter Colin Kelly taking the loss after allowing four runs on 12 hits to go with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
The teams are scheduled to complete their three-game series on Saturday, March 16th with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Talbot Field.
