AUBURNDALE, Fla. --- The Moravian University baseball team looked to rally from a four-run deficit, and the Greyhounds had the tying run at second base before falling to Wartburg (Iowa) College, 7-5, in the RussMatt Invitational at Lake Myrtle Park Thursday. 

How It Happened

• The Hounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Graduate student first baseman Paul Hamilton drew a two-out walk and raced around the bases on an RBI triple down the right field line by senior designated hitter Cole Cherkas
• The Knights countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to move ahead 2-1, and Wartburg added a run in the third to stretch the advantage to 3-1
• The Greyhounds evened the score at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the seventh. Graduate student third baseman Justin Otero hit a one-out single while senior left fielder David Olsakowski singled with two outs. After a failed pickoff attempt allowed the runners to move up and a walk by graduate student second baseman Chris Pow, Hamilton ripped a two-out, two-RBI single through the left side that scored Otero and Olsakowski
• Wartburg retook the lead in the home half of the eighth inning with four runs to build a 7-3 edge
• Moravian nearly rallied in the top of the ninth inning, scoring twice before leaving the tying run at second base. Senior centerfielder Matt Madigan and Olsakowski each had one-out singles before Pow drew a walk to load the bases. Hamilton followed with a two-RBI double down the left field line to score Madigan and Olsakowski. The Blue & Grey were unable to score another run

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had nine hits with Olsakowski going 3-for-4 with two runs while Hamilton recorded a 2-for-4 game with four RBIs, a double and an run
• Otero and Madigan each collected one hit and scored a run while Cherkas had a hit and an RBI
• Junior right fielder Nick Henry had the Hounds' other hit in the contest
• Graduate student Noah Ingalls started on the mound for the Blue & Grey, and he tossed five innings with three runs, two earned, on seven hits to go with a pair of strikeouts. Senior Rony Minier pitched two-plus innings with two hits, a walk and three strikeouts while freshman Caden Ward saw an inning of action with three runs on two hits and two walks to close out the game

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Friday, March 1 vs. Gordon (Mass.) College (DH) at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Auburndale, Fla., 10:00 a.m.
• Sunday, March 3 vs. Marymount (Va.) University (DH) at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Auburndale, Fla., 9:00 a.m.