CLERMONT, Fla. --- The No. 19 ranked Moravian College softball team split its final two contests at the Spring Games being played at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida Friday morning as the Greyhounds fell to undefeated Wittenberg (Ohio) University, 5-0, before defeating Ohio Wesleyan University, 5-3, to finish the trip at 8-2.
In the opener against Wittenberg, the Hounds were limited to just five hits while sophomore Josie Novak suffered her first loss of the season in the circle as she allowed five runs, four earned, on nine hits while striking out seven batters.
Wittenberg scored a run in the third, one in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth while Moravian stranded eight runners on base including five in scoring position.
The Greyhounds needed to rally in the second game after falling behind Ohio Wesleyan, 3-0, in the second inning. Moravian finished the game with 10 hits with sophomore third baseman Jessica D'Agostino going 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Junior first baseman Abby Jeffries was 2-for-3 with an RBI while junior outfielder Madison Newhouser was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored.
The Blue and Grey would get on the scoreboard and cut the deficit to one with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Newhouser reached on a fielder's choice and Jeffries singled before D'Agostino connected on a two-RBI double down the right field line. Moravian pushed three runs home in the top of the seventh to take the lead. Freshman shortstop Madison Shaneberger led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by sophomore catcher Janae Matos. Matos would score on an RBI double off of Newhouser's bat while Newhouser gave the Hounds an insurance run when she raced home on an RBI single by Jeffries.
Sophomore Amanda Carisone improved to 4-1 in the circle as she allowed three runs, just one earned, on seven hits and two walks to go with six strikeouts.
Moravian is slated to begin its 2016 home season on Tuesday, March 15 when the Greyhounds host Neumann University in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m. at Blue and Grey Field.
