BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Neumann University baseball team broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh inning to earn a 5-4 non-conference win over host Moravian College at Gillespie Field Tuesday.
The Greyhounds had a chance to score in the bottom of the first when sophomore outfielder Matt Hanson tripled off of the fence in deep right center field but he was stranded at third.
The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when senior first baseman Tyler Drinkard led off with a single and scored on a two-out RBI single from senior outfielder Dave Kalash.
Moravian would get on the scoreboard with three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. Junior outfielder Joseph Connell led off with a single, and he came all the way around to score on an RBI double down the left field line by sophomore third baseman Ryan Luke. Freshman second baseman Alex Bull hit an RBI fielder's choice that scored Luke. Freshman outfielder Cameron Leon, who had singled earlier in the inning, scored the final run of the inning on an error by the Knights.
Neumann answered with three runs in the top of the third to move back in front, 4-3. Sophomore third baseman Buddy Elgin had a two-RBI single while Drinkard had an RBI double.
The Greyhounds tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the third inning but Moravian left two more runners in scoring position and a total of four in the game. Hanson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and he scored on an RBI single by Connell.
The Knights broke the tie in the seventh for the win. Senior outfielder Marty Sessa was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and he moved to second on an error by the Greyhounds, after the second out of the inning, Sessa would score on another Moravian error.
Neumann finished the game with an 11-5 advantage in hits as Drinkard went three-for-five while senior shortstop Will Flores was three-for-four. Connell was two-for-four at the plate for the Greyhounds.
Junior Thomas Mariano started on the mound for Moravian, allowing four runs on seven hits to go with one strikeout in four innings of action. Junior Chris Soltys took the loss after giving up an unearned run on four hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts.
Senior Kevin Joo earned the win for the Knights, allowing a run on a hit and two walks to go with nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings of relief action. Senior Erik Klimoff earned his third save of the season with one strikeout.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to close out their 2013 home season on Wednesday, April 24th when the squad hosts Alvernia University in a non-conference game at Gillespie Field starting at 4:00 p.m.
