Spartans Make Their Case in 3-2 Defeat of Softball Team
CLERMONT, Fla. – The Moravian College softball team got the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Case Western Reserve University held on for a 3-2 victory to hand the Greyhounds their first loss of the season and conclude the Dot Richardson Spring Games at the National Training Center on Friday night.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
CLERMONT, Fla. – The Moravian College softball team got the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Case Western Reserve University held on for a 3-2 victory to hand the Greyhounds their first loss of the season and conclude the Dot Richardson Spring Games at the National Training Center on Friday night.
The Greyhounds (5-1) were down 3-1 with last licks in the seventh and rallied with two hits, scoring on an error to cut the Spartans' lead to one. With Moravian runners on first and second, Case freshman starting pitcher Annie Wennerberg got the final two outs to finish her complete game.
After Case took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first off Moravian sophomore starting pitcher Carsin Conner, junior first baseman Jenn Dalickas knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom half with an RBI infield single to score junior center fielder Dior George. Dalickas (2-for-4) was Moravian's only batter with multiple hits in the setback.
Conner helped hold the score at 1-1 over her next scoreless three innings. The sophomore scattered four hits over five innings with two walks and two strikeouts. After her second start in over a year after returning from an injury, Conner holds a 0.70 ERA through the first week of the season.
Case took the lead in the top of the fifth by scoring on a throwing error. The Spartans scored what proved to be an important insurance run in the top of the sixth. With runners on first and third and no one out, the Case runner at first got herself into a deliberate rundown, allowing the Spartans to score the runner from third and take a 3-1 lead.
The insurance run was crucial because Moravian scored its second run in the bottom of the seventh after hits by sophomore left fielder Mary Schlosbon and senior designated player Cassie Ernst. Dalickas hit a fly to left that was dropped, allowing Schlosbon to score.
Moravian flashed the leather on Friday night as Schlosbon made a diving catch of a foul ball in left field. Senior second baseman Eavan Matz also made a diving stop of a ground ball going to her left and hopped to her feet for the assist.
The Greyhounds batted .428 as a team during their Spring Break trip to the Sunshine State, and crossed the plate 60 times during the 5-1 week.
Moravian returns North on Saturday and will enjoy two off days before getting back to work to prepare for the 2014 home opener at Blue and Grey Field, scheduled for Tuesday, March 18 against The College of New Jersey. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
