ALLENTOWN, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team swept rival Muhlenberg College in a non-conference doubleheader to run the team's winning streak to nine games with 5-1 and 2-1 victories at Cedarcreek Field Thursday.
The wins by the Greyhounds, now 15-5 on the season, gave Moravian a 9-5 lead in the annual Matte Award standings between the schools, assuring that the trophy will be returning to Bethlehem for the first time since the end of the 2002-03 academic year.
The Greyhounds would take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second in the opener. Junior first baseman Jenn Dalickas led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by senior outfielder Miranda Sergas. Sergas then came home on an RBI single from senior second baseman Eavan Matz.
The Mules would cut Moravian's lead in the top of the third inning with a run after a walk, sacrifice bunt and RBI single.
The Hounds scored two more runs in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 4-1. Senior catcher Taylor Mihalik drew a bases loaded walk to score Matz, who had led off with a single. Dalickas followed with an RBI ground out as junior center fielder Dior George came across the plate.
Moravian added another run in the top of the seventh for a 5-1 advantage. Dalickas drove in her second run of the game with an RBI single as junior pitcher Lizzie Mack scored.
The Mules would load the bases in the bottom half of the seventh before the Greyhounds recorded the final three outs for the victory to bring the Matte Award back to Bethlehem for the first time since 2002-03.
Moravian had a 10-5 advantage in hits with Dalickas and Matz each going 2-for-3 and Mack also collecting two hits. Mihalik also had one hit to become the 41st player in school history with 100 career hits.
Mack improved to 4-0 in the circle while allowing a run on five hits and four walks to go with two strikeouts.
In the second game, Moravian once again jumped out to the lead, this time with a run in the top of the third inning for a 1-0 advantage. Sophomore outfielder Mary Schlosbon led off with inning with a single and scored on an RBI single by Mihalik.
Muhlenberg answered with a run in the bottom half of the third to tie the contest at 1-1.
George put the Greyhounds back on top for good in the fourth when she connected on a two-out home run to left field, her second homer of the season, and a 2-1 final.
That was all senior Elizabeth Tillou needed to improve to 5-2 in the circle this season for the Greyhounds. Tillou allowed a run on five hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
The Hounds would hold a 6-5 edge in hits in the second game as Mihalik was 2-for-3 and Schlosbon was 2-for-4.
Moravian will return to action on Saturday, April 12 in a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Elizabethtown College starting at 1:00 p.m.
