WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Moravian College baseball team split a Landmark Conference doubleheader at The Catholic University of America Sunday with the Greyhounds winning the first game, 5-3, and Talbot Field, and the Cardinals winning the second contest, 5-4.
Moravian is now 8-6 overall and 2-1 in Landmark Conference action after taking two of three games in the weekend series while the Cardinals are 11-5 overall.
In the first game, the contest was scoreless until the Greyhounds broke through with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Junior outfielder Joseph Connell led off with an infield single and scored when freshman catcher Mike Roethke reached on an error with two outs.
The Cardinals answered with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Junior outfielder Brendan Breslin had an RBI single for Catholic while sophomore second baseman Nick Clary scored on a wild pitch to put the Cardinals in front.
Moravian answered with a run in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 2-2. Sophomore third baseman Ryan Luke singled with one out and scored two batters later on an RBI single from freshman first baseman Charles Savite.
The Greyhounds retook the lead, 3-2, with a run in the top of the sixth. Freshman outfielder Cameron Leon drew a one-out walk and scored on a two-out RBI single from junior second baseman Daniel Seitzinger.
Catholic tied the game again in the bottom of the sixth inning when senior catcher Mark Kalokitis had an RBI ground to score junior third baseman Marc Hanna, who has started the inning with a double.
After a scoreless seventh forced extra innings, Moravian scored twice in the top of the eighth inning for a 5-3 lead. Sophomore shortstop Colin Case and Seitzinger each singled with one out. With first base open, sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson was intentionally walked to load the bases. Luke followed with a two-RBI single to score Case and Seitzinger.
Moravian freshman pitcher Anthony Zaloga would get Catholic in order for the fifth time in eight innings to seal the win. Zaloga improved to 2-1 on the mound this season, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters. The Cardinals used four pitchers in the game with senior Kory Smigocki taking the loss in relief.
The Greyhounds had a 14-4 advantage in hits in the opening game with Case going three-for-four and scoring two runs. Seitzinger and Savite were each two-for-four while Luke and Connell each turned in two-for-five performances at the plate.
Moravian opened the second game with a run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Seitzinger singled with one out, and Hanson followed with an RBI double to chase Seitzinger home.
Catholic answered right back in the bottom of the first and tied the game at 1-1. Sophomore outfielder Nick Scali doubled to lead off the inning, and he scored on an RBI ground out by Hanna.
The Greyhounds added another run in the top of the second for a 2-1 advantage. Junior designated hitter Matthew Gutkes walked with an out and eventually scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Seitzinger.
The Cardinals answered right back in the bottom of the second inning with two runs to take their first lead of the game at 3-2. Freshman shortstop Charlie Dillon and Clary each had RBI singles for Catholic.
Catholic added a run in the bottom of the third on a Moravian error, and the Cardinals got an RBI sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Chris McCloud in the fourth inning to build a 5-2 advantage.
Moravian scored twice in the top of the fifth inning to cut the Catholic lead to 5-4. Hanson was hit by a pitch with one out and scored on a two-out RBI ground out by Connell while Luke scored on a wild pitch to pull the Greyhounds within a run.
In the top of the seventh, Hanson drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch before Connell drew a two-out walk. Savite was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Moravian. However, the Greyhounds would leave the bases loaded as the game ended.
Catholic had an 11-5 advantage in hits in the second game with Clary going three-for-four. McCloud and Breslin were each two-for-three for the Cardinals. Connell was two-for-three at the plate to lead the Greyhounds.
Junior Kevin Farley earned the victory on the mound for Catholic, allowing four runs, just one earned, on five hits and a walk to go with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of action. Senior Chris Nee earned the save while pitching the seventh inning and allowing two walks.
Junior Thomas Mariano took the loss on the hill for the Greyhounds, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits and two walks to go with two strikeouts in three innings of action. Junior Robert Solano tossed the other three innings, allowing a run on four hits with one strikeout.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, March 19th when the Greyhounds host The College of New Jersey in a non-conference game at Gillespie Field beginning at 3:30 p.m.
