Solano Selected Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Week
TOWSON, Md. – Senior starting pitcher Robert Solano of the Moravian College baseball team has been named the first Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Week for the 2014 season after his performance last weekend.
TOWSON, Md. – Senior starting pitcher Robert Solano of the Moravian College baseball team has been named the first Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Week for the 2014 season after his performance last weekend.
Solano (1-0) picked up the win in the Greyhounds' (2-1) season-opening 1-0 defeat of Wesley College in the 7th Annual Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament on Friday afternoon. The senior hurler tossed seven scoreless innings – which was interrupted by a rain delay of 2:35 – and scattered six hits while striking out seven.
"The biggest thing was he sat through over a two-hour rain delay and came back to throw five more innings," said head coach Paul Engelhardt. "With him returning to the game, we didn't have to use two or three more guys to get through the game, which resulted in having more pitchers available for Saturday and Sunday. He toughed it out and he actually looked better after the rain delay."
Solano walked just one of the 28 batters he faced on Friday. The Greyhounds provided just one run in support of Solano's start, and that's all the right-handed senior needed as he combined with closer Chris Soltys on a shutout.
In the process, Solano moved into 10th in school history in innings pitched, now 151.0, and a tie for 10th with his 11th career victory.
"His pitch count was good," Engelhardt said. "He controlled the game and it made it easier on us because we weren't scoring much. He's our senior; he should be the ace of our staff. He showed a lot on Friday. He didn't just fight the rain; he also fought off some pain from some blisters. He's a tough kid."
Solano and the Greyhounds return to the diamond with a trip to Kean University, ranked No. 3 in the nation by both D3baseball.com and the American Baseball Coaches Association Top 25 polls. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Union, N.J.
