TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian College senior first baseman Jenn Dalickas and freshman pitcher Josie Novak have been named this week's Landmark Conference Softball Athlete and Pitcher of the Week for their performances last week.
The duo helped the Greyhounds to an 8-0 mark for the week including a 4-0 mark in the team's final four Landmark Conference games of the season to finish the conference slate with an 11-1 mark. Dalickas earns Landmark Athlete of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks while Novak garnered her second award of the season as well.
Dalickas continued her torrid April last week, going 14-for-22 (.636) with 12 runs, 10 walks, nine RBIs, three doubles and three home runs. After being walked in 13 straight plate appearances earlier in the month, Dalickas moved to the leadoff spot in the lineup this week. In a sweep of Ramapo College of New Jersey in non-conference action last Thursday, Dalickas connected on a home run in each game to tie and then break Moravian's career home run record. Her homer on Sunday versus The University of Scranton pushed the record to 31 in a Moravian uniform. She has set the Moravian school record with 33 base on balls this season, and she has moved into second in school history with 70 career walks.
This month, Dalickas is 24-for-35 with 29 walks and had a streak of 25 straight plate appearances of reaching first base (9-for-9 with 16 walks).
"Team's were starting to pitch around Jenn so we decided to move her to the leadoff spot to get her on base early," commented Head Coach John Byrne. "She is probably one of the most feared hitters in the conference, and she is really swinging the bat well right now. It was nice to see her break the home run record at home on Thursday, especially with former record holder Janelle Brey Greer at the game when she broke the mark. We need Jenn to continue hitting the ball and getting on base as we get deeper into the season."
Novak had a 4-0 week in the circle for the Greyhounds. Novak threw four complete games and had a 1.62 ERA after allowing seven runs, six earned in 26 innings. She gave up 16 hits and five walks during the week, and she recorded 33 strikeouts to increase her season total to 105 in her debut season, the 11th best season total in Moravian history. Novak had 11 of those strikeouts, a career-high, in the first game of the Greyhounds' sweep of Ramapo. Novak also had four assists in four chances in the field.
"Josie gutted out some tough games and earned some key victories for us this week," stated Byrne. "Josie has a good mix of pitches and has been getting a number of strikeouts this year. Her game versus Ramapo might have been her best of the spring. Our pitching staff has been very good this season but we need to get some more run support for them."
Moravian, 24-4 overall, is scheduled to continue a 10-game home stand on Thursday, April 23 when the Greyhounds welcome Stevens Institute of Technology for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m. at Blue & Grey Field in Bethlehem.
