ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team earned its first doubleheader sweep of the season, defeating Elizabethtown College, 4-3 and 10-1 in five innings, in non-conference action Tuesday.
In the opener, Moravian, now 8-6 on the year, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Sophomore second baseman Eavan Matz led off with a single, and she crossed the plate on an RBI single from sophomore outfielder Miranda Sergas.
The Blue Jays, who fall to 8-8 this spring, answered in the bottom half of the inning. Senior pitcher Julie Sebastian led off the inning with a single, and she scored on a bases loaded RBI single from junior second baseman Whitney Breneman that also saw a runner thrown out at the plate to end the scoring threat.
The Greyhounds threatened to retake the lead in the top of the fourth inning, getting runners to second and third with one out but Moravian was unable to score.
Moravian would retake the lead in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs. Sergas hit a one-out single before senior pitcher Jenna Carmon walked and junior first baseman Shanne Mohr singled to load the bases. Sophomore catcher Cassie Ernst connected on an RBI single to score Sergas while sophomore third baseman Rachel DeLucia had a two-out RBI single to score Carmon.
Elizabethtown would score twice in the home half of the fifth inning to tie the contest at 3-3. The Blue Jays would load the bases before junior shortstop Lindsey Cooper drew and RBI walk while junior third baseman Elly McCarthy had an RBI sacrifice fly to tie the score.
The Greyhounds moved back in front again in the top of the sixth inning. Freshman outfielder Dior George reached on an error with one out, stole second base and scored on a two-out RBI double by Carmon. Moravian stranded Carmon in scoring position, and the Greyhounds would leave another runner at third base in the top of the seventh inning.
The Blue Jays would get a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to score as Moravian earned the 4-3 win. The Greyhounds had a 12-7 edge in hits in the opening game with freshman outfielder Jenn Dalickas, Ernst, George and Sergas each going two-for-four with Ernst and Sergas adding RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Amanda Sheckford was three-for-three to lead Elizabethtown.
Carmon improved to 4-3 in the circle for Moravian, allowing three runs, just one earned, on seven hits and three walks to go with two strikeouts as she became the fourth pitcher in school history to surpass 500 innings pitched in her 57th career win, tying her for third in school history. Sebastian took the loss for Elizabethtown after giving up four runs, three earned on 12 hits and a walk.
Moravian would jump out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning of the nightcap. Ernst led off with a single and Dalickas followed with a double. After an out, Matz had an RBI fielder's choice to score Ernst while Dalickas scored on an RBI fielder's choice by junior pitcher Alyssa Fegely.
The Greyhounds extended their lead to 8-0 in the top of the third inning with six runs. George started the inning with a single, and she scored on an RBI ground out by Dalickas with the bases loaded. Sophomore catcher Taylor Mihalik followed with a two-RBI single to score Carmon and Ernst, who had each singled earlier in the inning. Matz would reach on an error before Fegely connected on a three-run homer to end the scoring in the inning. The home run was the first of Fegely's collegiate career.
Elizabethtown would get a run in the bottom of the third inning when McCarthy reached on an error with the bases loaded; however, the Greyhounds would throw a second runner out at the plate on the play.
Moravian put two more runs across the plate in the top of the fourth inning to push the lead to 10-1. Dalickas had an RBI ground to score Sergas while Carmon scored on an RBI single from Mihalik.
Moravian had a 9-5 advantage in hits in the second game with Ernst going two-for-two. Fegely was two-for-three at the plate with three RBIs while Mihalik was two-for-three with three RBIs for the Greyhounds. Junior catcher Courtney Comstock was two-for-three for the Blue Jays.
Fegely earned her first win of the season in the circle for the Greyhounds, allowing an unearned run on five hits to go with two strikeouts. Freshman Laura Tomasetti took the loss for Elizabethtown, giving up ten runs, just five earned on eight hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings. Freshman Justyna Pepkowski tossed the final 1 1/3 innings for the Blue Jays with a hit and a strikeout.
Moravian will return to action on Saturday, March 24 in the team's first home doubleheader of the season when the Greyhounds host Drew University in a Landmark Conference twinbill at Blue & Grey Field beginning at 1:00 p.m.
