JESSUP, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team clinched a berth in the 2014 Landmark Conference Tournament with a sweep at The University of Scranton Thursday evening as the Greyhounds won by scores of 3-1 and 19-11 at the Jessup Youth Sports Complex.
The Hounds, who tied a school record for runs scored in the second game while connecting on five home runs, are now 26-6 overall and 7-3 in Landmark action.
In the opener, Moravian scored all three of its runs in the top of the fourth inning. Senior third baseman Rachel DeLucia hit a two-out RBI double to begin the scoring, and she scored on an RBI single from sophomore pitcher Lindsay Sullivan. Junior center fielder Dior George added an RBI single to finish the scoring.
The Royals plated a run in the bottom of the seventh before Sullivan recorded the final out of the game to improve to 7-0 in the circle this spring. Sullivan allowed six hits while striking out two batters in the complete game win.
The Greyhounds had eight hits in the opener as DeLucia and Sullivan were each 2-for-3 and George went 2-for-4.
Scranton started the scoring in the second contest with three runs in the bottom of the first inning after the Hounds had left the bases loaded in the top of the inning.
Moravian answered back with four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-3 lead. DeLucia led off the inning with a solo homer. After a single by senior starting pitcher Elizabeth Tillou and a sacrifice bunt, George had an RBI double to score Tillou. Sophomore left fielder Mary Schlosbon followed with an RBI triple before senior right fielder Miranda Sergas gave the Hounds the lead with an RBI sacrifice fly.
Scranton scored four times in the home half of the second to retake the lead, 7-4.
The Greyhounds tied the game at 7-7 after plating three runs in the top of the third. Junior first baseman Jenn Dalickas led off with a double, and DeLucia hit a one-out single. After a pitching change, sophomore pitcher Carsin Conner connected on a three-run homer, her first career home run.
The Royals pushed the lead back to four runs, 11-7, with a four-spot in the bottom of the third inning.
Moravian scored a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI sacrifice fly by Sergas before the Hounds retook the lead for good, 12-11, with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. George started the scoring with an RBI double before scoring on a Scranton error. Dalickas then connected on her team-leading 10th homer of the season, a two-run shot to put Moravian in front.
The Greyhounds tacked on a run in the top of the sixth when Conner ripped a solo home run for her second round-tripper of the game.
Moravian finished off the scoring with six runs in the top of the seventh. Senior catcher Taylor Mihalik had an RBI walk with the bases loaded before DeLucia connected on a grand slam, her second homer of the game and fifth of the season. Schlosbon drove in the final run with an RBI single.
The Hounds had a 19-14 edge in hits in the second game with Dalickas and Schlosbon each going 3-for-4 while DeLucia was 3-for-5 and George was 3-for-6. Conner and Sergas were both 2-for-4 in the game.
Tillou tossed one-plus innings with three strikeouts before Conner entered the game. Conner would improve to 6-2 on the year after allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits and two walks to go with two strikeouts over the final six innings of action.
Moravian is slated to close out its 2014 regular season on Saturday, April 26 when the Hounds host Juniata College in a Landmark twin bill at Blue & Grey Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., and the Greyhounds will be celebrating the careers of their eight seniors before the first game.
