CLERMONT, Fla. --- The No. 14 ranked Moravian College softball team posted a pair of shutouts on Wednesday as the Greyhounds topped Alvernia University, 6-0, and the University of Mount Union, 12-0 in six innings, at the Spring Games being held at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida.
The Hounds remain undefeated on the season at 6-0, and the squad moved up three spots to 14th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll released Wednesday morning.
In the first game of the day against Alvernia, junior pitcher Josie Novak tossed her third one-hit shutout of the season as she allowed a walk while striking out nine batters. The win moved Novak into a tie for eighth in school history with 41 career victories, and she is tied for seventh with 15 career shutouts.
Moravian had 11 hits against the Crusaders with senior designated player Abby Jeffries going 2-for-2. Junior catcher Jane Matos and freshman right fielder Lauren Goetz were both 2-for-3.
The Greyhounds jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jeffries started the scoring with an RBI double, and she came around to score on an RBI single from Matos. Goetz followed with an RBI double to right center as Matos raced home, and junior first baseman Jean Markovic finished off the inning with an RBI double to left center.
Moravian extended the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run to center field by sophomore third baseman Madison Shaneberger. The Blue and Grey finished off the scoring in the bottom of the sixth when freshman outfielder Emily Stanilious hit a two-out, pinch-hit double before scoring on an RBI infield single by freshman pinch hitter Colleen McCoy.
In the second game, junior pitcher Amanda Carisone earned her first win of the season and the 40th of her career as she became the 11th player in school history with 40 wins. Carisone also moved into a tie for tenth with her 13th career shutout as she allowed two hits and two walks while striking out a pair of batters in five innings of action. Freshman pitcher Paige Lesher made her collegiate debut in the circle with one hit allowed in one inning.
Moravian had 14 hits in the victory against the Raiders with Matos, Goetz and sophomore shortstop Kaela Kane all going 2-for-3 with Matos driving in two runs and Goetz scoring twice. Senior left fielder Julie Siragusa and sophomore center fielder Kat Spilman both had 2-for-4 games while Jeffries had three RBIs and senior pinch hitter Victoria Conner drove in two runs.
The Greyhounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when senior second baseman Lizzie Deutsch connected on a one-out RBI fielder's choice that sent Goetz across the plate. The Blue and Grey would extend the lead to 3-0 with two runs in the third inning on a two-RBI double to right center as Jeffries and Spilman scored.
Moravian would plate nine runs with two outs in the top of the sixth inning for the 12-0 lead and their first NCAA run-rule game of the season. Siragusa drove in the freshman pinch runner Taylor Herman with the first run on an RBI single while Jeffries picked up three RBIs on a single as Siragusa, Kane and sophomore pinch runner Ashley Gindle scored. Stanilious and Matos would both scored on passed balls before Conner hit a two-RBI single that scored Goetz and Markovic. Senior pinch hitter Niki Maffettone finished off the inning with an RBI single as Deutsch raced home.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action at the Spring Games on Thursday, March 9 when the squad takes on Wittenberg (Ohio) University at 8:00 a.m. and Penn State Behrend at 10:30 a.m.
