BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team jumped out to an early lead on rival Muhlenberg College and went on to post a 9-3 victory in non-conference action at Gillespie Field Monday.
The Greyhounds took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and would lead the rest of the way. Freshman first baseman Charles Savite drew a walk to start the inning, and junior outfielder Joseph Connell followed with a single. After a sacrifice bunt from sophomore third baseman Ryan Luke, sophomore designated hitter Justin Pilchman hit an RBI ground out to score Savite. Connell came across the plate on an RBI single by freshman catcher Mike Roethke.
The Mules cut their deficit in half with a run in the top of the third inning when sophomore shortstop Danny Usewick walked with one out and scored on an RBI triple by sophomore outfielder Jimmy Cody.
Moravian scored four times in the bottom of the fourth to push the lead to 6-1. Savite and Connell had singles to start the inning, and Luke added another sacrifice bunt before Pilchman connected on a two-RBI double. Roethke had an RBI sacrifice fly to chase Pilchman across the plate while freshman outfielder Jimmy McCarthy had an RBI double to score freshman second baseman Alex Bull, who had reached on an error.
The Greyhounds made the advantage 7-1 with a run in the bottom of the fifth when sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson led off with a single and eventually scored on an RBI ground out by Connell.
Moravian pushed the lead to 8-1 in the bottom of the sixth when McCarthy singled with two outs and scored on an RBI double by sophomore shortstop Colin Case.
Muhlenberg scored twice in the top of the seventh inning with two hits and two errors by the Greyhounds. Cody had an RBI fielder's choice with the bases loaded and a throwing error allowed the second run to score.
The Greyhounds finished off the scoring with a run in the bottom half of the seventh. Sophomore first baseman Joey DiSarno led off with a pinch hit single, and he scored on an RBI single by sophomore designated hitter Matthew Gutkes.
Moravian had a 12-6 advantage in hits in the contest with Savite going two-for-two. Connell was two-for-three for the Greyhounds while McCarthy was two-for-five and Pilchman drove in three runs. Usewick and senior outfielder John Muha each had two hits to lead the Mules.
The Greyhounds used a set pitching rotation in the game with six games scheduled this week. Junior Robert Solano improved to 4-2 on the season, allowing a run on two hits and two walks to go with two strikeouts in his four innings. Sophomore Chris Lansberry gave up a pair of unearned runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings while junior Ben Hammel allowed a hit and struck out one batter in 1 2/3 innings. Senior Matt Cordes tossed the final inning for the Greyhounds with one strikeout.
The Mules also used four pitchers in the game with sophomore David Anderson taking the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits and a walk in four-plus innings of action.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 23rd when the Greyhounds host Neumann University in a non-conference game at Gillespie Field beginning at 4:00 p.m.
