READING, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team won its second straight game with a 17-8 non-conference victory at Albright College Tuesday.
Moravian opened the scoring with eight runs in the top of the second inning. Freshman first baseman Charles Savite led off with a single and sophomore third baseman Ryan Luke was hit by a pitch. After the duo stole second and third base, junior outfielder Joseph Connell hit a two-RBI single. Sophomore outfielder Chris Lansberry followed with a single. Sophomore second baseman Alex Longernecker was safe on an RBI sacrifice bunt while freshman outfielder Jimmy McCarthy reached on an RBI fielder's choice. Sophomore second baseman Colin Case connected on a two-RBI triple for the Greyhounds before sophomore designated hitter Matt Hanson had an RBI ground out. Moravian's final run of the inning scored on an error.
Greyhounds added two runs in the top of the fourth to push their lead to 10-0. Luke walked with one out and scored on an RBI triple by Connell. Lansberry followed with an RBI ground out to score Connell.
Albright would get on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the fourth inning when outfielder Collin Hecker tripled with two outs and scored on an RBI single by catcher Dylan Boll to cut the Greyhounds' lead to 10-1.
Moravian would get the run back in the top of the fifth to push the lead back to ten runs at 11-1. McCarthy led off with a single and eventually scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by junior designated hitter Harrison Fonteix.
The Lions scored two runs in the bottom half of the fifth to make it 11-3 when Zac Okonski connected on a pinch hit, two-run homer to left centerfield.
Moravian pushed five runs across the plate in the top of the sixth inning to make the advantage 16-3. McCarthy hit an RBI fielder's choice to score Lansberry, who was hit by a pitch. Freshman pinch hitter Alex Bull drew an RBI walk to push freshman catcher Mike Roethke across the plate. An error by the Lions allowed the Greyhounds to score two more runs. Freshman pinch hitter Cameron Leon drew an RBI bases loaded walk to extend the Greyhounds lead to 16-3.
Albright answered once again with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 16-6. Outfielder Max Dundore and first baseman Gabe Santone each had RBI singles while outfielder Ben Vitelli had an RBI ground out.
The Greyhounds scored their final run in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI single from Luke that sent Bull across the plate.
The Lions finished the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the eighth on an error and an RBI ground out from shortstop Brandon Triantos.
Moravian had a 15-11 edge in hits in the contest with Connell and Longernecker each going two-for-four. Lansberry and Savite each had two-for-five performances at the plate for the Greyhounds. Okonski led Albright with a three-for-three game while Boll, Santone and Hecker each had two hits.
Junior Thomas Mariano improved to 3-3 on the mound for the Greyhounds, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out five batters in five innings of action. Senior Matthew Cordes, junior Jason Jamula and freshmen Tommy Natale-Drown and J.J. Jordan each tossed an inning for the Greyhounds.
Albright also used five pitchers in the game with Seth Heffner taking the loss in two innings of action.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, April 10th in a non-conference game at Penn State-Berks starting at 3:30 p.m.
