BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team split a Landmark Conference doubleheader Saturday at Gillespie Field with The University of Scranton as the Greyhounds won the opener 5-1 while the Royals took the nightcap, 2-1, as Moravian junior Joseph Connell picked up his 100th career hit.
Moravian jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman outfielder Jimmy McCarthy led off with a single and eventually scored on an RBI ground out by freshman first baseman Charles Savite. Sophomore shortstop Colin Case had reached on an error and scored on an RBI sacrifice bases loaded bunt by Connell.
The Greyhounds added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to make their lead 4-0. Sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson and Savite drew walks with one out and scored on a two-RBI, two-out single by Connell.
Scranton would get on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning to cut Moravian's lead to 4-1 on an RBI double by sophomore designated hitter Greg Monastra.
Moravian answered back in the bottom of the fourth with a run to push the lead back to four runs at 5-1. Freshman catcher Mike Roethke walked to start the inning and scored on an error after a single by Case later in the inning.
Scranton had a 9-6 edge in hits in the first game with sophomore outfielder Michael Umerich going three-for-four. Junior third baseman Michael Trabulsi was two-for-three. Hanson was two-for-two to lead the Greyhounds while McCarthy went two-for-four.
Sophomore Chris Lansberry improved to 3-2 on the mounds, allowing nine hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts. Senior Bobby Della Polla took the loss for the Royals with five walks and five strikeouts.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning in the second game on an RBI ground out by junior outfielder Michael Gaeta.
Moravian tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Savite led off with a double and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by freshman second baseman Alex Bull.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Connell connected on a single to become the 23rd Moravian baseball player to reach 100 career hits.
Scranton moved back in front, 2-1, in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI fielder's choice by freshman outfielder Zach Dignam.
The Royals had a 5-4 edge in hits in the second game.
Moravian junior Robert Solano fell to 3-2 on the mound, after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks to go with one strikeout in five-plus innings of action. Junior Ben Hammel tossed the final two innings with a hit. Matthew Calamoneri improved to 4-0 on the season with the win for Scranton.
The Greyhounds and the Royals will close out the three-game Landmark Conference series with a nine-inning game on Sunday, April 14th at Gillespie Field starting at 1:00 p.m.
