Novak's One-Hitter Leads No. 11 Moravian to Win over Catholic to Begin Landmark Tournament
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The No. 11 Moravian College and top seed softball team opened the 2018 Landmark Conference Tournament with a 7-0 victory over fourth seed The Catholic University of America in the first game at Blue & Grey Field Friday.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
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0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 7 | 10 | 0 |
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The No. 11 Moravian College and top seed softball team opened the 2018 Landmark Conference Tournament with a 7-0 victory over fourth seed The Catholic University of America in the first game at Blue & Grey Field Friday.
The Greyhounds, now 30-5 on the season, had 10 hits in the game with senior catcher Janae Matos going 2-for-2 while junior center fielder Kat Spilman and freshman shortstop Maddisen Bieber each going 2-for-4.
Senior pitcher Josie Novak came within one batter of a perfect game before allowing Catholic's only hit of the contest in the seventh inning. Novak added nine strikeouts to improve to 16-2 on the year.
Moravian jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of second inning. Freshman second baseman Shannon Brogan led off with a single and Matos followed with a single down the left field line. Junior third baseman Madison Shaneberger hit an RBI fielder's choice as Brogran beat the throw to the plate. Senior first baseman Jean Markovic connected on an RBI single to bring in Matos, and Shaneberger also scored on a throwing error that allowed Markovic to go all the way to third base. Freshman right fielder Brooke Wehr would get on base on an error as Markovic scored the final run of the inning.
The Greyhounds added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend the advantage to 7-0. Junior designated player Kaela Kane and Wehr both singled with one out before Bieber connected on an RBI single to score Kane. Spilman followed with an RBI single as Wehr crossed the plate, and Bieber raced home on a throwing error on the play.
Moravian advances to the winner's bracket game at 3:00 p.m. on Friday while Catholic will play in the first elimination game on Saturday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m.
