BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team closed out its three-game Landmark Conference series with Juniata College with an 11-1 victory in the final game Sunday at Gillespie Field that saw the Greyhounds connect on a pair of home runs.
The Greyhounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson reached on an error and sophomore third baseman Ryan Luke walked with an out. Freshman first baseman Charles Savite then hit a two-RBI double down the right field line to score Hanson and Luke with the only runs that junior starting pitcher Robert Solano would need.
Moravian added three runs in the bottom of the second to push the lead to 5-0. Freshman designated hitter Alex Bull led off with a single, and scored on an RBI ground out by sophomore shortstop Colin Case. Hanson had an RBI triple that chased junior second baseman Daniel Seitzinger across the plate, and Hanson scored the final run of the inning on a double steal with Luke stealing second and Hanson scoring.
The Greyhounds added two more runs in the third inning for a 7-0 lead when freshman catcher Mike Roethke walked with one out and Bull followed with his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot to right centerfield.
Moravian scored three times in the bottom half of the sixth to make the lead 10-0. Case and Hanson had singles with one out before Luke drilled hit first career homer, a three-run shot.
The Greyhounds pushed their final run of the game across the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning when sophomore shortstop Alex Longernecker doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single by freshman outfielder Jimmy McCarthy.
Juniata scored its lone run of the game in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI sacrifice fly from freshman shortstop Sheridan Doan.
Moravian finished the game with a 12-5 advantage in hits with Luke going two-for-two. Bull was two-for-three in the game while Hanson and Case were each two-for-four with Hanson scoring three times.
Solano improved to 2-1 on the mound this season, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters in seven innings. Freshman Brett Wagner allowed a hit and struck out one batter in an inning of action while junior Chris Soltys worked the ninth inning and allowed a run on a hit and two walks to go with two strikeouts.
Juniata used four pitchers with junior Mario DeYulius taking the loss after seven runs on five hits and four walks with one strikeout in three innings as the starter.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, March 26th in a non-conference game at Misericordia University beginning at 3:30 p.m.
