SELINSGROVE, Pa. --- The No. 11 Moravian College softball team swept a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Susquehanna University Saturday afternoon, winning 1-0 and 4-2 to extend the team's winning streak to nine games.
The Greyhounds are now 20-2 on the season and 6-0 in Landmark Conference action. The program posted its 24th straight 20-win season under the direction of 24-year Head Coach John Byrne, who now has a career mark of 770-229.
The opening game was a pitcher's dual with Moravian junior Josie Novak tossing a two-hit shutout as she walked one batter and struck out four. The shutout was the fourth of the season for Novak.
The Blue and Grey had seven hits in the first contest with senior left fielder Julie Siragusa going 2-for-4 and sophomore center fielder Kat Spilman driving in the game's only run.
Moravian had several chances to get on the scoreboard as the Greyhounds left two runners on base in both the second and third innings before stranding the bases loaded in the sixth. Siragusa led off the seventh inning with a triple, and junior Jackie Marshall came on to pinch run. Marshall raced home on an RBI sacrifice fly by Spilman for the game's only run.
The Hounds collected 10 hits in the second contest with senior first baseman Abby Jeffries going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a home run. Junior catcher Janae Matos was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI while Spilman went 2-for-4.
Junior Amanda Carisone remained undefeated in the circle this spring at 11-0 as she tossed 5.1 innings with a pair of runs on six hits to go with one strikeout. Novak came on to toss the final 1.2 innings with a walk and three more strikeouts as she earned her second save of the season.
Moravian jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Siragusa started the game with an infield single and scored on a bases loaded RBI single from Jeffries.
The Greyhounds would extend the lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Jeffries led off with a solo homer to center field, her team-leading third home run of the season, which moved her into a tie for tenth in school history with nine career homers. Matos followed with a double down the left field line and scored on an RBI double to left field by sophomore third baseman Madison Shaneberger. Susquehanna finally scored its first run of the day in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Hounds would tack on an insurance run on the fifth inning. Spilman singled with one out and sophomore Ashley Gindle came on to pinch run. Matos then connected on an RBI double to left center, her team-leading 17th double of the season, as Gindle scored. The River Hawks added a run on the sixth inning before Novak came in to face the final six batters and preserve the victory.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 11 in a non-conference doubleheader at DeSales University beginning at 3:30 p.m.
