BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Alvernia University baseball team broke a 3-3 tie with five runs in the top of the eighth inning to earn a 9-6 non-conference win over host Moravian College Wednesday at Gillespie Field.
Moravian threatened first in the game, loading the bases in the bottom of the third inning; however, the Greyhounds were unable to get a runner home.
The Crusaders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth with an unearned run. Junior first baseman Matt Paterson singled with one out and scored on an RBI grounder by junior third baseman Chris Gehris as the Greyhounds committed a pair of errors in the inning.
Alvernia loaded the bases in the top half of the fifth inning, but Moravian was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
The Crusaders added two runs in the top of the sixth to push their lead to 3-0. Gehris led off with a double and scored on an RBI double from senior catcher Kevin Bailey. Senior outfielder Cody Younker had an RBI single to chase Bailey across the plate.
The Greyhounds would get on the scoreboard with three runs to tie the game in the bottom half of the sixth. Sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson tripled with one out and scored on an RBI triple by freshman first baseman Charles Savite. Junior outfielder Joseph Connell followed with an RBI single to chase Savite across the plate. Sophomore Joey DiSarno connected an RBI ground out, scoring Connell to tie the game at 3-3.
Alvernia put runners on second and third in the top of the seventh but the Greyhounds would get out of the inning with the game still tied at 3-3.
Moravian loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore shortstop Colin Case was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Hanson and Savite drew back-to-back walks to load the bases but the Greyhounds failed to score and take the lead.
The Crusaders scored five times in the top of the eighth inning to take an 8-3 lead. Senior second baseman Chris Ray had an RBI single while Patterson added an RBI fielder's choice. Gehris and Bailey also had RBI singles in the inning while sophomore shortstop Richie Ricciardi had an RBI ground out.
The Greyhounds got three runs back in the bottom half of the eighth to cut Alvernia's lead to 8-6. Freshman catcher Mike Roethke drew a walk with two outs before singles by sophomore second baseman Alex Longernecker and freshman outfielder Jimmy McCarthy loaded the bases. Case then hit an RBI single to score Roethke while Longernecker and McCarthy scored on an error on a ball hit by Hanson.
Alvernia added a run in the top of the ninth to push its lead to 9-6. Sophomore pinch hitter Dustin Stuck was hit by a pitch and scored on an RBI double from Paterson.
The Crusaders finished the game with a 14-8 advantage in hits with Ray, Patterson, Gehris, Bailey and senior designated hitter Bully Turner each collecting two hits. The teams combined to leave 24 runners on base in the game with Alvernia stranding 14 and Moravian leaving ten on base including seven in scoring position.
Freshman Anthony Zaloga started on the mound for the Greyhounds, allowing an unearned run on two hits to go with a strikeout in four innings of action. Freshman Brett Wagner tossed an inning with two hits and a walk while freshman Tommy Natale-Drown allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. Junior Ben Hammel took the loss for Moravian after pitching two innings and giving up five runs, just two earned, on six hits. Savite moved from first base to the mound and tossed 1 1/3 innings with a run on a hit and a walk to go with two strikeouts.
Freshman James Colgan started for the Crusaders and allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two batters in 5 1/3 innings. Freshman Matt Backlund tossed 1 1/3 innings with a walk while freshman Jared Degler pitched to a pair of batters, walking both of them. Senior Anthony Gambino tossed a third of an inning for Alvernia to earn his first win of the season while senior Cody Smith pitched two-thirds of an inning with three runs, one earned, on three hits and a walk with one strikeout. Sophomore Kevin Becker-Menditt tossed the final 1 1/3 innings for his tenth save of the season.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, April 27th in a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Drew University with the opening game set to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Madison, N.J.
