BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team post an 8-5 victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Landmark Conference action Sunday at Gillespie Field to win the final game of the three-game weekend series.
USMMA took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by senior designated hitter Nicholas Kopacka.
The Greyhounds scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Freshman first baseman Charles Savite led off with a single before junior outfielder Joseph Connell connected on a one-out RBI triple. Sophomore outfielder Justin Pilchman chased Connell across the plate to give Moravian the lead.
The Mariners moved back in front, 3-2, with a pair runs in the top of the sixth. Kopacka had an RBI sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, and sophomore catcher Jacob Wood followed with an RBI sacrifice bunt.
Moravian answered right back with four runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning to take a 6-3 lead. Connell led off with a single and would score on an RBI bunt single by sophomore second baseman Alex Longernecker. Pilchman, who was hit by a pitch, scored on an RBI bunt single from freshman outfielder Jimmy McCarthy while Longernecker crossed the plate on an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Colin Case. McCarthy scored on an RBI ground out by sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson.
USMMA scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to pull within a run, 6-5. Wood had an RBI sacrifice bunt before sophomore third baseman Joseph Policastro had an RBI fielder's choice.
The Greyhounds answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth for an 8-5 advantage when McCarthy hit an RBI single to score Longernecker, who had doubled. McCarthy would score on a double steal later in the inning as Case was picked off.
Moravian had a 15-5 advantage in hits in the game with Case going four-for-five. Pilchman was two-for-three. McCarthy, Connell and Longernecker were each two-for-four for the Greyhounds. Kopacka led the Mariners at the plate with a two-for-three performance.
Junior Robert Solano improved to 3-1 on the mound for the Greyhounds after allowing five runs, just two earned, on five hits and a walk while striking out six batters in seven-plus innings of work. Junior Chris Soltys tossed the final two innings for his second save of the season, allowing just a walk.
Freshman Kyle Clausen fell to 3-2 after taking the loss for the Mariners as he gave up six runs on ten hits and two walks with one strikeout in 5 1/3 innings of action.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 9th in a non-conference game at Albright College beginning at 4:00 p.m. in Reading.
