BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Junior first baseman Jenn Dalickas hit a pair of mammoth home runs in the second game to break the school record for homers and RBIs in a season and lead the Moravian College softball team to a sweep of Juniata College in Landmark Conference action Saturday, taking a pair of five-inning games, 9-1 and 14-2, at Blue & Grey Field on Senior Day and the final day of the regular season.
The Greyhounds have now won seven straight and are 28-6 overall. With the two victories, the Hounds finish the Landmark season at 9-3 and clinched the second seed in the 2014 Landmark Tournament being hosted by top seed Susquehanna University with their win in the first game.
"We've played well down the stretch putting this winning streak together," stated Head Coach John Byrne who has Moravian heading to the postseason for the 20th consecutive year. "We've gotten some more consistency in pitching, and our hitting has really come along. All and all, we've finished up strong. The playoffs are a second season and everybody has a 0-0 record."
Moravian didn't take long to get on the scoreboard in the opener with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior right fielder Miranda Sergas hit an RBI single to score sophomore left fielder Mary Schlosbon, and Sergas crossed the plate on an RBI double by Dalickas. Dalickas scored the final run of an inning on an error by the Eagles.
Juniata scored its lone run in the opener in the top of the second inning to cut the Hounds advantage to 3-1.
The Greyhounds got that run back in the bottom of the third inning when Sergas led off with a single and scored on a two-out RBI single by senior designated player Cassie Ernst.
Moravian would get to the NCAA eight-run rule with five tallies in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dalickas drove in the first two runs with a two-RBI single, and she would cross the plate on an RBI single from senior third baseman Rachel DeLucia. Sophomore pitcher Carsin Conner hit an RBI ground out with the bases loaded before senior center fielder Dior George hit an RBI double to left field for the final run.
The Hounds had a 12-3 advantage in hits in the opener with Sergas going 3-for-3. Dalickas, DeLucia and senior catcher Taylor Mihalik each going 2-for-3 with Dalickas driving in three runs.
Conner improved to 7-2 in the circle with 2.2 innings of relief that included striking out the side in the fourth inning. Senior Elizabeth Tillou started for the Greyhounds and allowed a run on three hits and two walks to go with one strikeout.
The Eagles took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on the second game.
Once again, the Greyhounds answered right back with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Sergas, who was 5-for-5 on the afternoon to become the 12th player in school history to get to 150 career hits.
Moravian scored five times in the home half of the second inning to build a 6-1 lead. DeLucia led off with a solo home run to center field, her sixth round-tripper of the season. Sergas drove in a pair with a two-RBI double to right center before Dalickas put a dent in the scoreboard in right center field with a two-run homer. The home run was the 11th of the season for Dalickas, a new school record.
"I was hoping that one would get over the scoreboard so it wouldn't dent it," Byrne said of Dalickas record-breaking homer.
The Greyhounds added seven more runs in the bottom of the third for a 13-1 lead. Senior second baseman Eavan Matz started the scoring in the frame with an RBI single before George cleared the bases with a three-RBI double. After an out and a walk by Sergas, Dalickas connected on a three-run homer off of the track beyond the fence in right field for her 12th home run of the season, her first multi-home run game of the year and her seventh round-tripper in conference play. When Dalickas touched the plate, it was her 53rd RBI of the season, breaking the record of 52 set by Janelle Brey in 2002. Dalickas also became just the second player in school history with 100 total bases in a season, now with 102 to break Brey's mark of 100.
"Jenn's been on a tear recently," Byrne commented on his first baseman. "I wouldn't want to pitch to her right now. Fortunately, we have some other people in the line-up really hitting the ball right now too so they can't pitch around her too much. That makes her even more dangerous."
Juniata scored its second run of the game in the top of the fourth.
Moravian would finish of the scoring in the bottom half of the fourth inning on a pinch-hit RBI single by Tillou.
The Greyhounds had a 14-5 edge in hits in the second game as DeLucia, George and Sergas were each 2-for-2. Dalickas was 2-for-3 with her five RBIs.
Sophomore Lindsay Sullivan improved to 8-0 in the circle for Moravian with two runs on five hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts.
The Hounds will return to action on Friday, May 2 as the second seed in the 2014 Landmark Tournament, facing third seed The Catholic University of America in the opening round in Selinsgrove. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in the second game of the day as the host Crusaders will play fourth seed Elizabethtown College in the tournament's opening contest at 11:00 a.m.
