BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Elizabethtown College baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Moravian, falling 5-2 and 6-5, Saturday afternoon.
With the two losses the Blue Jays fall to 9-9 overall and in conference play, while the Greyhounds improve to 12-11 overall and 12-6 in the Landmark.
Junior Robbie Bertucio hit his first home run of the season in game one, finishing the day with two hits and three RBI. Sophomore Ben Watson mashed two triples in game two to go with an RBI and a run scored, while senior JT Thompson racked up two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored in the same game.
GAME ONE: MORAVIAN 5 ELIZABETHTOWN 2
After Moravian took a 2-0 lead through three innings, the Blue Jays responded in the top of the fifth. With a runner on first and one out, Bertucio stepped in and crushed a home run to right field, plating junior James Vito and knotting the score at two.
That is all the damage Etown would be able to do though as the Greyhounds scored two in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth to take game one, 5-2.
Sophomore Nicholas Ortega started game one, pitching two innings and allowing no runs on one hit, and striking out three. Sophomore Zach Silfies (2-2) took the loss in relief, going 3 1/3 innings and giving up four earned runs on five hits and striking out three.
Eddie Olsen (4-1) pitched a gem for Moravian, throwing a complete-game two-hitter with seven strikeouts.
GAME TWO: MORAVIAN 6 ELIZABETHTOWN 5
The Blue Jays came out swinging in game two, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. With a runner on second and one out, Thompson knocked a double down the right field line, plating senior Arley Shepherd for the early 1-0 advantage.
Junior Tyler McGonigle followed that up with a single to left field, scoring Thompson and making the score 2-0.
Watson finished up the early scoring rally with his first triple of the game, bring McGonigle around to score and giving Etown a 3-0 lead after half an inning.
After Moravian got one back in the bottom of the first, the Blue Jays pushed their advantage back to three in the top of the third as junior Joey Thomas grounded out to second but scored Thompson from third, making the score 4-1 midway through the third.
The Greyhounds, however, scored five of the next six runs to take a 6-5 lead heading into the top of the seventh. Etown managed to load the bases but could not bring the tying run across as Moravian took game two, 6-5.
Senior Joseph Sarich started game two, pitching four innings and allowing three earned runs on seven hits, and striking out three. Junior Eric Sipling (1-1) took the loss in relief, giving up one unearned run on one hit.
Garrison Koch (1-1) earned the win in relief for the Greyhounds, allowing one earned run on two hits. Kyle Serman tallied his fourth save of the season, working two shutout innings and giving up two hits, and striking out four.
Etown and Moravian are back in action tomorrow, May 2 for the final two games of the weekend series. First pitch of game one is set for 12:30 p.m. For the Elizabethtown College Spectator Policy, please CLICK HERE.
