BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College sophomore pitchers Josie Novak and Amanda Carisone combined to allow just three hits and six total base runners while striking out 17 batters as the No. 19 Greyhounds swept a non-conference doubleheader from visiting DeSales University, 8-0 in six innings and 1-0, at Blue & Grey Field Tuesday.
The sweep was the fifth straight for the Hounds, who are now 21-3 overall after a 10-game winning streak. Moravian has reached the 20-win plateau for the 23rd time under Head Coach John Byrne, who now has a 734-224 record in 23 seasons.
"Josie and Amanda threw as well as they have all year, and the defense played well," stated Byrne. "The offense played one game well and then scratched one run across in the second game. We've got to hit the ball better than we did in the second game. You're not going to get a shutout every game but sometimes one run is enough, and with these pitchers sometimes that is enough. We just have to get a better focus in for the conference games, and it is tough to get back on the field after a 0-day layoff but that is still no excuse for not coming out and swinging the bats."
Novak allowed just one hit in the opener while walking two batters. Novak is now 11-1 in the circle this spring and became the 11th player in school history to reach 30 career wins, now 30-7 overall, with her ninth career shutout. Novak also added six straight to raise her career total to 256, sixth all-time at Moravian.
The Blue and Grey had eight hits in the opener with junior designated player Victoria Conner going 2-for-3 and freshmen shortstop Kaela Kane and third baseman Madison Shaneberger each turning in 2-for-4 games.
Moravian gave Novak all the offense she needed in the bottom of the second inning when Shaneberger reached on an error and scored on another error later in the inning. The Hounds added five runs in the bottom of the third frame to extend the lead to 6-0. Kane led off with a single and crossed the plate on an RBI fielder's choice by Shaneberger. Sophomore catcher Janae Matos connected on a two-RBI double while Conner connected on an RBI sacrifice fly. The final run of the inning came when Matos raced home on an error.
The Greyhounds scored a run in the bottom of the fifth on an error by the Bulldogs, and Conner drove in the final run with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth for the NCAA eight-run rule.
In the second game, Carisone tossed a two-hitter with one hit by pitch and no walks. She struck out 11 batters, tying her career high from earlier in the season and moving into 11th in school history with 174 strikeouts. Carisone is now 10-2 on the season and 29-4 in her career after her 10th shutout for the Greyhounds.
Moravian was limited to just one hit in the second game with junior outfielder Julie Siragusa connecting on her team-leading 13th double of the season in the second inning. The Hounds scored their lone run in the bottom of the first. Senior outfielder Mary Schlosbon was hit by a pitch to start the frame, and she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kane. After a wild pitch moved Schlosbon to third, Shaneberger connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to plate the only run of the contest.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Thursday, Aril 14 when the squad hosts Drew University in a Landmark Conference doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Blue & Grey Field.
