HAMPDEN SYDNEY, Va. --- The Moravian College baseball team took an early lead but was unable to hold on as the Greyhounds fell to host Hampden-Sydney (Va.) College, 6-3, Sunday afternoon in the final game of a three-game series to begin the 2020 season.

The Hounds collected six hits in the contest with senior center fielder Carmine Palummo going 2-for-4. Freshman infielder Mason Fisher was 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, and both Fisher and Palummo scored runs for the Blue and Grey.

Freshman Tyler Valentine made the start on the mound for Moravian and tossed five innings with two runs on eight hits to go with one strikeout. Sophomore Kyle Petsch, junior Rodney Berger and senior Connor Morro each tossed an inning of relief.

The Greyhounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Fisher connected on a double with one out and moved to third on a single by Palummo. After Palummo stole second, senior left fielder Ian Csencsits hit an RBI ground out to chase Fisher across the plate with the first run of the game. Palummo made it 2-0 when he raced home on a wild pitch.

The Hounds extended their lead to 3-0 with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman catcher Derek Holmes led off the frame with a double down the left field line and eventually scored when sophomore second baseman Royce Frazier reached on an error.

Hampden-Sydney would score twice in the bottom of the fifth to pull within a run before scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead.

Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, February 25 when the squad travels to nationally-ranked Kean (N.J.) University for a non-conference contest beginning at 3:30 p.m.