BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team posted a 9-6 non-conference victory over DeSales University at Gillespie Field Tuesday to close out the 2013 regular season as senior Matthew Cordes picked up his first career win on the mound.
The Greyhounds jumped out a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when sophomore third base Ryan Luke connected on a solo home run to left center field to start the inning, his second homer of the season.
Moravian extended its lead to 2-0 in the bottom half of the third. Freshman outfielder Jimmy McCarthy led off with a double and eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch as freshman first baseman Charles Savite drew a walk on the pitch.
The Greyhounds scored five times in the fourth inning to push their lead to 7-0. Sophomore outfielder Justin Pilchman and junior Kyle Spence drew walks to start the inning and then pulled a double steal to move up to second and third. Junior catcher Matthew Gutkes reached on an error that allowed Pilchman to score while Spence scored on an RBI single by McCarthy. Gutkes crossed the plate on an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Colin Case while McCarthy scored on an RBI single by junior outfielder Joseph Connell. Luke had an RBI fielder's choice with the bases loaded that scored Case.
DeSales got on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the top half of the fifth to cut Moravian's lead to 7-2. Senior outfielder Justin Scerbo had an RBI single in the inning, and he also scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Brian Mauro.
Moravian added two runs in the bottom of the eighth for a 9-2 lead. Connell reached on an error to start the inning and scored on an RBI single by Luke while Pilchman scored on an RBI single from freshman second baseman Alex Bull.
The Bulldogs scored four times in the top of the ninth and left the bases loaded in the inning. Mauro started the scoring with an RBI double before freshman third baseman Alec Hardy drew a bases loaded walk. Junior designated hitter Charles Dennis finished the scoring with a two-RBI single.
DeSales finished the game with a 13-11 advantage in hits with Mauro going three-for-four. Scerbo, Dennis, freshman outfielder Evan Fraser and junior outfielder Mark Fuse each had two hits for the Bulldogs. Luke led the Greyhounds going two-for-five with three RBI while McCarthy, Case and Gutkes each collected two hits for Moravian
Cordes started on the mound for the Greyhounds and earned his first career victory after allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one batter in 2 1/3 innings in a scheduled pitching rotation on pitch count. Freshman Anthony Zaloga pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits with one strikeout before Jason Jamula tossed one inning with a hit and a walk. McCarthy tossed an inning with a hit and a strikeout before freshman J.J. Jordan came on to pitch an inning with one hit allowed. Freshman Anthony Martino tossed a third of an inning with four runs on four hits and two walks before junior Chris Soltys finished the game with a strikeout and a walk for his fourth save of the season.
Freshman Steven Wallace started for the Bulldogs and tossed three-plus innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on four hits to go with three walks and one strikeout. Freshman Chris Zampini pitched 1 1/3 innings with two runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks before sophomore Trevor Connors came in to toss three innings with two runs, one earned, on three hits and two walks. Senior Brendan Duffy pitched the final 2/3 of an inning with a hit and a strikeout.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, May 4th in the opening round of the 2013 Landmark Conference Tournament being hosted by The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. The third seeded Greyhounds will play second seed The United States Merchant Marine Academy in the second game Saturday scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
