Moravian Tops Catholic to Advance to 2017 Landmark Conference Championship Round

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The No. 11 and top seed Moravian College advanced to the championship round of the 2017 Landmark Conference Championship Tournament at Blue & Grey Field Saturday with a 6-2 victory over third seed Catholic University of America in a winner’s bracket game.

The Greyhounds, now 38-4 on the year, will play in the championship round on Sunday, May 7 at 12:00 p.m. against an opponent to be determined in the final elimination game on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The Cardinals fall to 27-13 on the season and will play in that final elimination contest Sunday against the winner of Saturday’s first elimination game between second seed Susquehanna University and fourth seed Juniata College.

Moravian had 11 hits in the victory with sophomore center fielder Kat Spilman going 4-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs and a pair of homers. Senior designated player Abby Jeffries and junior first baseman Jean Markovic each going 2-for-3 with Markovic driving in two runs and connecting on a home run.

Catholic had seven hits with senior third baseman Erin Adams going 2-for-4.

Greyhound junior Josie Novak improved to 18-2 in the circle this spring as she allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out six batters.

Freshman Claire Sturek started in the circle for the Cardinals and took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and four walks to go with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings of action. Freshman Sabrina Scott tossed the final 2.1 innings with two runs on five hits and three walks to go along with four strikeouts.

Catholic jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sophomore right fielder Rebecca Marks led off the game with a single and scored on an RBI single to the gap in left center by Adams.

Moravian answered in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game. Senior left fielder Julie Siragusa started the frame with a single through the left side, and after the Greyhounds loaded the bases, junior catcher Janae Matos connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to left field as Siragusa raced home.

The Hounds would take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Spilman connected on a solo home run to straight away center field.

Moravian extended the lead to 4-1 with a pair of runs in the fourth frame. Sophomore third baseman Madison Shaneberger drew a bases loaded walk and scored on a two-out, two-run homer to center field by Spilman, her team-leading fifth home run of the season.

The Cardinals would get a run back in the top of the fifth as Marks connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to score freshman first baseman Marissa Deblasie, who had led off the inning with a double.

The Greyhounds got the run back in the bottom of the fifth frame when Markovic led off the inning with a first pitch solo home run down the right field line, her first collegiate homer.

Moravian finished off the scoring with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Markovic drew a bases loaded walk to push senior pinch runner Lizzie Deutsch as the Greyhounds left the bases loaded.