BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team won its second straight game, defeating Keuka (N.Y.) College, 17-7, in non-conference action at Gillespie Field Tuesday.
The Greyhounds took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore third baseman Ryan Luke and junior outfielder Joseph Connell singled with one out and freshman designated hitter Alex Bull walked to load the bases. Luke scored the opening run on a passed ball while Connell came across the plate on an RBI ground out by junior catcher Matthew Gutkes.
Moravian would extend its lead to 6-0 with four runs in the fourth inning. Luke led off with a single, and Connell followed with a walk. Bull reached on an error that allowed Luke to score while Connell scored on an RBI single by Gutkes. Freshman second baseman Carl Cara had an RBI ground out that scored Bull before sophomore shortstop Alex Longernecker had an RBI single to score Gutkes.
The Greyhounds pushed their lead to 11-0 with five runs in the fifth inning. Luke was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Connell followed with a two-run homer to left field, the first home run of his collegiate career. Bull was hit by a pitch and scored on an RBI double by freshman outfielder Jimmy McCarthy while Cara came across the plate on an RBI fielder's choice by sophomore outfielder Justin Pilchman. McCarthy finished the scoring in the inning on an RBI single from freshman first baseman Charles Savite.
Keuka scored five times in the top half of the sixth inning to cut Moravian's advantage to 11-5. Junior third baseman Justyn Schuck drove in two of the runs in the inning with a two-RBI single.
Moravian answered back in the home half of the sixth with a run on an RBI double by Gutkes that scored freshman outfielder Cameron Leon to put the lead back to 12-5.
The Greyhounds added five runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 17-5 advantage. Pilchman reached on an error before sophomore first baseman Joey DiSarno doubled. Luke followed with a two-RBI double to score Pilchman and DiSarno, and Luke crossed the plate on an RBI single from sophomore outfielder Chris Lansberry. Leon walked in the inning and scored when Cara reached on an error while Lansberry finished the scoring for Moravian when he crossed the plate on an RBI ground out by Longernecker.
The Storm scored on run on the eighth inning on an RBI single by freshman second baseman Billy McDermott, and Keuka finished the scoring with a run in the ninth on a bases loaded walk by Schuck.
Moravian had a 17-7 advantage in hits with Luke going three-for-four and scoring four times. Connell was two-for-two with three runs scored while Gutkes was two-for-four with three RBIs. McCarthy was also two-for-four in the game for the Greyhounds while sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson was two-for-three. Schuck, McDermott and sophomore designated hitter Connor Anderson were each two-for-four for Keuka.
The Greyhounds used five pitchers in the game with junior Thomas Mariano earning the victory after allowing three hits and a walk to go with eight strikeouts in five innings of action. Junior Jason Jamula saw his first action of the season tossing 2/3 of an inning while senioe Matthew Cordes pitched 1 1/3 innings. Freshmen Tommy Natale-Drown and J.J. Jordan each pitched one inning for Moravian.
Junior Josh Mead took the loss on the mound for the Storm.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, April 3rd when the squad travels to 25th–ranked Haverford College for a non-conference game beginning at 4:00 p.m.
