BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The No. 8 ranked Moravian College softball team posted a pair of shutouts, defeating rival Muhlenberg College, 4-0 and 6-0, Thursday at Blue & Grey Field.
"It is always good to come out throw two shutouts against both DeSales and Muhlenberg as we did this week," stated Head Coach John Byrne. "Pitching and defense have been doing well. We started hitting the ball a little better in the second game but we're still looking for that consistency up and down the lineup. We did enough to give these pitchers a couple of runs and we're in pretty good shape. Hopefully that continues on Saturday as we get back into the conference schedule with Drew that we need take care of. We're in the heart of it now with the pitchers hitting stride and the defense looking good. We just need the offense to scratch together some runs each game and we'll be in good shape."
Moravian improves to 24-2 on the year with the sweep and the Blue and Grey have swept six straight doubleheaders and won 13 consecutive games.
Junior pitcher Josie Novak tossed her eight shutout of the season, scattering four hits to go with seven strikeouts to give her 100 strikeouts on the year, her third straight season with triple digit strikeouts. Novak improved to 11-2 this season, and she is now fifth in school history with 20 career shutouts.
The Greyhounds had six hits in the opening game with freshman designated player Olivia Martin going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Junior catcher Janae Matos was 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a home run.
Moravian took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Sophomore center fielder Kat Spilman connected on a one-out single before senior first baseman Abby Jeffries reached on a fielder's choice. Matos followed with a three-run homer to left center on an 0-2 pitch for her second homer of the spring and ninth career home run to move into a tie for tenth in school history.
The Blue and Grey finished off the scoring in the sixth inning when Martin connected on an RBI double to score freshman pinch runner Taylor Herman.
Junior Amanda Carisone improved to 13-0 in the circle in the second game as she earned her 50th career victory, moving into a tie for sixth in school history. Carisone scattered five hits and added a walk and two strikeouts in her second shutout of the season and 15th of her career to move into a tie for eighth in the Greyhounds' record book.
The Hounds pounded out 11 hits in the second contest with sophomore shortstop Kaela Kane going 2-for-2. Matos added a 2-for-3 game while Jeffries connected on a two-run homer.
Moravian jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Senior left fielder Julie Siragusa led off the inning a single, and she raced home from second base on an RBI double off of the fence in right center by Spilman. Matos ripped an RBI single up the middle as Spilman scored.
The Greyhounds added two runs in the third inning to extend the lead to 4-0. Matos, Martin and freshman right fielder Emily Stanilious all hit singles to load bases before freshman second baseman Lauren Goetz connected on an RBI sacrifice fly that scored freshman pinch runner Samantha O'Keefe. Martin later scored on an error in the inning.
Moravian would score twice in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 6-0. Kane led off with a single before Jeffries connected on a two-run homer to right center field, her team-leading fourth round-tripper of the season. Jeffries moved into sole possession of tenth in school history with her tenth career home run.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, April 15 when the squad hosts Drew University in a Landmark Conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Blue & Grey Field in Bethlehem.
