SELINSGROVE, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team dropped a pair of one-run games, 4-3 and 8-7, to defending Landmark Conference champion Susquehanna University on the road Saturday to begin the 2014 Landmark season.
Junior outfielder Dior George led the Greyhounds at the plate, going 3-for-4 in the doubleheader with three runs scored while junior first baseman Jenn Dalickas was 4-for-7 with two RBIs, a pair of doubles and a homer for Moravian.
In the opener, the Greyhounds fell behind, 1-0 before Dalickas connected on a solo home run to right field, her first homer of the season and the 15th of her career, in the top of the second to tie the game. Moravian added a run in the top of the third on an RBI single from junior designated player Lizzie Mack to extend the lead to 2-1.
The Crusaders would retake the lead in the bottom half of the fourth with a pair of runs before the Hounds tied the game in the top of the seventh when George scored on an RBI single from senior outfielder Miranda Sergas. Moravian would get two outs in the bottom of the seventh before Susquehanna scored on a walk-off RBI double by Sam Lacoe.
Senior Elizabeth Tillou took the loss in the circle for the Greyhounds, allowing three runs on nine hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of relief action.
Moravian jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning in the second contest on a two-RBI single from senior outfielder Taylor Mihalik. However, the Crusaders scored four times in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for good, 4-2.
Susquehanna extended its lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the third before Moravian cut the deficit back to two runs in the fifth on an RBI single from senior third baseman Rachel DeLucia and an RBI double by Dalickas, the 30th double of her career.
The Crusaders added single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings for an 8-4 advantage.
The Hounds attempted a seventh-inning rally, scoring three times to pull within a run but Moravian left the bases loaded to end the game and a total of 13 runners on base during the contest. Sophomore pinch hitter Lindsay Sullivan had an RBI fielder's choice to drive in the first run of the inning before George cut the deficit to two runs with an RBI sacrifice fly. Moravian loaded the bases again before senior catcher Cassie Ernst drew a walk to pull within a run.
The Greyhounds had a 9-7 edge in hits in the second game with DeLucia, Dalickas and Mack each collecting two hits in the game.
Sophomore Carsin Conner took the loss in the circle after 5 1/3 innings of relief action, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts.
Moravian will get right back on the field as the squad hosts Misericordia University in a non-conference doubleheader at Blue & Grey Field in Bethlehem on Sunday, March 23. The games were just added to the schedule on Friday and will begin at 1:00 p.m.
