Crusaders Salvage Weekend Series at Moravian with 6-4 Win

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Junior infielder Geoff Hunter (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) batted 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored to help visiting Susquehanna University defeat Moravian College, 6-4, in a Landmark Conference baseball game at Gillespie Field on March 28.

Sophomore Matt Lottes (Muttontown, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) improved to 3-0 this season by holding Moravian (8-6, 4-2 Landmark) to just three runs over the first eight innings. Lottes scattered nine hits and four walks while striking out three batters and helping Susquehanna (8-9, 1-2 Landmark) salvage one of three games over the weekend.

Senior Ben Leonard (Johnstown, Pa./Shade) pitched a one-run ninth inning to earn his second save of the season. Leonard allowed two hits and a walk.

Senior infielder Zack Brigman (Yardville, N.J./Hamilton West) joined Hunter as the other SU player with a multi-hit game. Brigman went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and two stolen bases.

The Crusaders never trailed in this game, as they scored twice in the top of the first inning, once in the third and three times in the fourth.

The Greyhounds, meanwhile, could never crack Lottes. The SU defense turned two double plays behind him and another behind Leonard.

Moravian almost tied the game in the ninth. With one out and runners on second and third base, a Greyhounds batter lined out to junior pitcher/infielder Calvin Hug (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) at third base, who stepped on the bag for a game-ending twin killing.

Five SU players went 1-for-4, including senior catcher Don Kirkland (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville), freshman outfielders Ryan Crofts (Westport, Conn./Staples) and Ken Kayama [Koto-Ku, Japan/Solebury (Pa.)], Hug and freshman infielder Nick Ferlise (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North). Kirkland tripled, scored and drove in a run. Crofts scored and had one run batted in and one run scored, and Kayama had an RBI. Hug had an RBI, and Ferlise scored.