BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Cardinals were eliminated from the Landmark Conference Tournament on Sunday morning, dropping a 6-2 decision to host and top seed Moravian. CUA put the first three hitters on base in the ninth, but a double play and ground out ended the Cardinals season at 24-17.
CUA went up 1-0 in the second when Dan Hinchcliff singled home a run off All-American Brendan Close of Moravian. Wes Stonelake scored to give the Cardinals an early lead.
The Greyhounds came right back and grabbed the lead with two runs in their half of the second. Blake Shortall's single back up the middle plated both Moravian runs.
Moravian upped its lead to 5-1 with three more runs in the third, with one run scoring on an error, and Gregg Steinman and Chris Lansberry driving in the other two with hits.
In the sixth, CUA put two runners on with one out, but Dave Grear bounced into a double play, ending the inning.
The Greyhounds scored their final run in the eighth when Joey Connell drove in Harrison Fonteix.
CUA gave it one final shot in the ninth, with Matt Grieb and Grear singling to put two runners on, and Marc Hanna singling in Grieb to make it 6-2.
With no outs, Colin McCarthy stepped in, but he grounded into a double play, leaving things up to Dan Sullivan. The Cardinals senior was retired on a ground out to short, ending CUA's quest for a second straight conference title.
Justin D'Alessandro got the start and suffered the loss for CUA on the mound. He went 3.0 innings, struck out three and allowed three earned runs on five hits, before giving way to Robin Mowatt and Chris Nee.
Close went all nine innings for the Greyhounds, striking out two and allowing one earned run.
Tim Mierzwa and Hanna led CUA with two hits each, while Austin Rock went 3-for-4 for Moravian.
Moravian will now face the loser of Drew and Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday afternoon in another elimination game.
CUA finishes the 2012 season with a record of 24-17. It marks the fifth straight year with at least 20 wins for the Cardinals.
