Junior left fielder David Olsakowski slides into home during the opening game of a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Drew University. Photo by Bob Koch / Entropy Sports Photography
Junior left fielder David Olsakowski slides into home during the opening game of a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Drew University. Photo by Bob Koch / Entropy Sports Photography
March 18, 2023

Greyhounds Split with Rangers to Capture Landmark Conference Series

MADISON, N.J. --- The Moravian University baseball squad split a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Drew University Saturday, capturing the first game, 8-7, and falling in the second contest, 11-7, to win the season opening conference series, 2-1. 

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MADISON, N.J. --- The Moravian University baseball squad split a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Drew University Saturday, capturing the first game, 8-7, and falling in the second contest, 11-7, to win the season opening conference series, 2-1. 

How It Happened – Game #1

  • The Greyhounds took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning in the opener. Junior catcher Connor Wengryn was hit by a pitch with two outs while junior left fielder David Olsakowski reached on an error. Junior center fielder Patrick Benolken followed with a two-RBI double to right center as Wengryn and Olsakowski raced home, and Benolken scored on an RBI single off the bat of senior shortstop Mason Fisher
  • The Rangers answered with five runs in the bottom of the third frame to move ahead 5-3
  • The Blue & Grey scored once in the top of the fourth inning to get within a run as Benolken reached on an error and scored from second on an RBI single from senior second baseman Chris Pow
  • Moravian knotted the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth frame when Wengryn hit a one-out double and came home on an RBI sacrifice fly by Benolken
  • The Hounds pushed two runs across the plate in the top of the sixth inning to retake a 7-5 lead. Pow led off with a single, and senior designated hitter Derek Holmes followed with a double. Junior first baseman Cole Cherkas connected on an RBI single to bring in Pow, while Holmes scored on an RBI infield single from sophomore right fielder Nick Henry
  • Drew countered right away with two runs in the home half of the sixth to tie the game again at 7-7
  • Moravian went back in front in the top of the seventh with the final run of the contest. Fisher hit a one-out single and raced home from second base on an RBI single to right field by Cherkas
  • Senior Noah Ingalls started on the mound for the Greyhounds and had four strikeouts in five innings of action. Sophomore Matt Snyder tossed two innings to record his first win of the season while seniors AJ Gordon and Andrew Connallon each pitched an inning with Gordan striking out one batter and Connallon posting three strikeouts for his first career save 

How It Happened – Game #2

  • The Hounds took the early lead in the second game as well with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Henry drew a two-out walk before junior third baseman Paul Croyle connected on a two-run homer to left field
  • Drew pushed a run across the plate in the bottom of the third frame to cut the Blue & Grey advantage to 2-1
  • Moravian extended the advantage to 6-1 with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore catcher Ayden Dunbar was hit by a pitch while Benolken singled and Fisher drew a walk to load the bases. Pow followed with a two-RBI double to left center as Dunbar and Benolken scored. Holmes added an RBI single to score Fisher while Henry connected on an RBI sacrifice fly that brought in Pow
  • The Rangers answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, and Drew plated five runs in the bottom of the seventh to move ahead, 9-6
  • The Blue & Grey pushed a run home in the top of the eighth when Henry scored on a groundout after starting the inning with a single
  • Drew scored twice more in the bottom of the eighth
  • Junior David Ciaccio began the game on the mound for the Greyhounds and had three strikeouts in five innings of action. Senior Ethan Weber tossed two innings while senior Kenny Kunzman was on the hill for an inning

Inside the Numbers

  • Moravian had 25 hits on the day with Holmes going 5-for-7 with three doubles, a run and an RBI
  • Fisher contributed four hits, two runs, an RBI and a double while Pow added four hits, three RBIs, two runs and a double
  • Benolken registered two hits, three runs, three RBIs and a double while Cherkas posted two hits and two RBIs
  • Croyle also had a pair of hits with a run, two RBIs and his first home run of the season and second of his career while Henry had two hits, two RBIs and two runs. Dunbar added two hits
  • Wengryn had a hit, two runs and a double on the day while Olsakowski registered a hit and scored a run 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

  • Thursday, March 30 vs. Keystone College, 4:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 1 vs. Elizabethtown College (DH), 12:00 p.m.