#25 Moravian Sweep Susquehanna on Senior Day
The 25th-ranked Moravian College softball team swept its final Landmark Conference doubleheader of the season, defeating Susquehanna University, 2-0 and 5-1, at Blue& Grey Field on Senior Day Saturday as the Greyhounds clinched the top seed in the 2011 Landmark Conference Tournament.
The 25th-ranked Moravian College softball team swept its final Landmark Conference doubleheader of the season, defeating Susquehanna University, 2-0 and 5-1, at Blue& Grey Field on Senior Day Saturday as the Greyhounds clinched the top seed in the 2011 Landmark Conference Tournament.
Moravian will host the Landmark Conference Tournament for the fourth straight season. The tournament begins on Friday, May 6th with the Greyhounds playing fourth seeded The University of Scranton at 11:00 a.m. Susquehanna is the second seed and will play third seed The Catholic University of America at 1:00 p.m.
The Greyhounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the opener Saturday. Senior second baseman Stephanie Falzarano drew a walk to start the inning, and freshman outfielder Miranda Sergas hit a bunt single. After a sacrifice bunt from freshman designated player Taylor Mihalik, sophomore third baseman Shannen Mohr connected on an RBI sacrifice fly in foul territory to score Falzarano. Junior pitcher Jenna Carmon, pictured at right, followed with an RBI single to score Sergas.
The Crusaders loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the second and didn't score, and Susquehanna left seven runners on base in the game. Moravian loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth but was unable to push another run home as the Greyhounds left eight runners on base in the game.
Susquehanna had a 4-3 edge in hits in the first game.
Carmon improved to 11-3 in the circle for the Greyhounds, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out four batters for her fifth shutout of the season. Carmon also became the seventh pitcher in school history to record 50 career wins. Senior Cara Swerdlow took the loss for Susquehanna, giving up two runs on three hits and six walks while striking out two batters.
Moravian would take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning in the second contest. Mohr led off with a single and Carmon reached on a fielder's choice. With one out, freshman catcher Cassie Ernst singled to load the bases before senior outfielder Maura Agnew hit an RBI single that scored Mohr. After the second out of the inning, Falzarano, pictured at left, hit a two-RBI single to score Carmon and Ernst.
Susquehanna scored its only run of the doubleheader in the top of the fifth inning when sophomore outfielder Lauren Gilbert and junior outfielder Lisa Finizio his back-to-back doubles with two outs.
The Greyhounds would get the run back in the bottom half of the fifth when senior outfielder Amanda Paulus connected on a two-out solo home run down the left field line, her team leading sixth homer of the season.
Moravian finished the scoring with a run in the sixth when Falzarano reached on an error with two outs and scored on an error on a ball hit by Sergas.
The Greyhounds had an 8-3 edge in hits in the second game with Mohr and Ernst each going two-for-three with a runs scored. Falzarano was two-for-four with a pair of RBIs and a run.
Senior Elizabeth Python remained undefeated in the circle for Moravian, allowing a run on three hits and three walks while striking out eight batters to improve to 12-0 on the year. Sophomore Sarah Hoffman took the loss for the Crusaders, giving up five runs, four earned, on eight hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts.
