Moravian Keeps Giants Winless With 8-5 Victory

More news about: Keystone

Hampden-Sydney, VA – Moravian College kept 17th ranked Keystone College winless on Saturday with an 8-5 victory on Sunday afternoon at the 7th Annual Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament at Ty Cobb Ballpark.      The Greyhounds, who are the defending Landmark Conference champions, improve to 2-1 on the year while the Giants fall to 0-3 on the young season.
 
Moravian jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Saturday as Charles Savite hit an RBI single before Alex Bull brought home a pair of runners with a base hit of his own. 
 
Keystone got a run back in to the bottom of the second inning when Alex Herceg (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) hit a single that brought home Chris Muniz (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), who reached earlier in the inning after being hit by a pitch.  The Giants then tied the game in the third inning, with Kevin Catherina (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Mary (Rutherford)) scoring on an error before Lymbel Guerrero (Lynn, MA/Lynn Classical) hit a sacrifice fly that plate Rick McLaughlin (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert)
 
The Greyhounds took a 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning after Charles Savite hit a two-run single before Keystone made it a one-run game in the home half of the frame when McLaughlin scored on a base hit off the bat of Guerrero.  The Giants then leveled the contest at 5-5 when Ricky Riscica (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich) scored on a Moravian error in the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Greyhounds went back in front, 7-5 on another RBI base hit from Savite before Joseph Connell hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.  Savite drove in his fifth run of the day in the visitor's ninth to push Moravian's lead to 8-5.  The Giants put a pair of runners on in the bottom of the ninth inning, but were unable to push across any more runs on the day.
 
Moravian starting pitcher Chris Lansberry allowed three runs on one hit in 2.2 innings of work before Nicolas Ampietro struck out three batters while yielding one run on one hit in 2.1 innings on the hill.  Tommy Natale-Drown surrendered one run in 0.2 innings before handing the ball off to Hunter Guard, who earned the win after allowing just one hit in 2.1 innings on the mound.  Chris Soltys earned his second save of the season after pitching a scoreless ninth inning for the Greyhounds.
 
Savite went 4-5 at the plate with five RBIs to lead Moravian's offense, which posted 10 hits on the day.
 
Keystone starter Mike Pembleton (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Township) allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out a pair in five innings on the mound.  Michael Meszoros (Bridgeport, CT/Bassick) was charged with the loss after surrendering a pair of runs on two hits and three walks while fanning one batter in three innings of work.  Steve Aniska (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) yielded one hit and walked one while recording one strikeout in an inning of work on the mound for the Giants.
 
McLaughlin and Guerrero had two hits apiece, with Guerrero driving in two runs, to lead Keystone's offense.
 
The Giants will return to the diamond on Saturday when they visit Stevenson College for a doubleheader.  First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in Stevenson, MD.