TUCSON, Ariz. --- The Moravian College softball team extended its winning streak to five games with two more victories at the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational Wednesday with a 9-1, six-inning win over Northland (Wisc.) College and a 12-4 triumph over SUNY Oneonta.
The Greyhounds, now 7-3 on the year, had 12 hits versus Northland with junior center fielder Kat Spilman going 3-for-4 with, a triple two runs scored and an RBI. Junior third baseman Madison Shaneberger went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a homer while senior catcher Janae Matos was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs.
Senior Amanda Carisone improved to 4-1 in the circle as she allowed a run on four hits and two walks to go with four strikeouts.
Moravian took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Matos reached on an error, and Spilman singled before Shaneberger connected on a two-RBI single.
Northland scored a run in the top of the second inning to cut the Blue and Grey's advantage to 2-1.
The Hounds pushed another two runs across the plate in the bottom of the third inning. Spilman tripled with two outs and scored on an RBI double by freshman second baseman Shannon Brogan. Shaneberger reached on an error that allowed Brogan to race home.
Moravian tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Matos led off with a double and senior pinch runner Jackie Marshall scored on a two-out, two-run homer by Shaneberger, her first home run of the season and the seventh of her career.
The Hounds finished off the game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the NCAA eight-run rule. Freshman shortstop Maddisen Bieber led off with a single and scored on a double by freshman right fielder Brooke Wehr. Matos had an RBI double to send Wehr across the plate while Matos scored the final run on an RBI single from Spilman.
Moravian pounded out nine hits versus SUNY Oneonta with Wehr going 3-for-5 with four runs, four RBIs, two doubles and her team-leading fifth home run of the season. Matos and senior first baseman Jean Markovic were each 2-for-4 with Matos connecting on two doubles as she moved into fourth in school history with 43 career doubles.
Senior Josie Novak improved to 3-2 in the circle this spring as she allowed four runs, three earned, on nine hits and four walks to go along with eight strikeouts. Novak became the third pitcher in school history to reach 500 career strikeouts with her first of the contest.
The Hounds jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Wehr led off with a double and scored when junior designated player Kaela Kane reached on an error. Kane eventually scored on a passed ball while Shanberger connected on an RBI sacrifice fly that chased Matos, who had drawn a walk, across the plate. Brogan, who had reached on a fielder's choice, scored on an RBI single by Markovic.
Oneonta added single runs in the first and third innings to cut Moravian's advantage to 4-2.
In the top of the fourth inning, Bieber reached on an error and sophomore left fielder Lauren Goetz drew a walk. Wehr followed with a three-run homer to give the Blue and Grey a 7-2 edge.
The Red Dragons scored a run in the bottom of the fourth frame but the Hounds would get it right back in the top of the fifth for an 8-3 lead. Brogan led off with a single and scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Bieber.
Oneonta added a run in the fifth to cut the Moravian edge to 8-4.
Moravian scored twice in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 10-4. Wehr reached on an error to start the inning, and she scored when Brogan hit an RBI sacrifice fly. Marshall, who had come in to pinch run after a double by Matos, raced home on a passed ball as Shaneberger drew a walk.
The Hounds added two more runs for a 12-4 advantage in the top of the seventh. Sophomore left fielder Emily Stanilious drew a one-out walk and scored from first base on an RBI double by Wehr. Kane followed with an RBI single as Wehr scored the final run of the day.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to close out their trip to Arizona with two more games in the Tucson Invitational on Thursday, March 8 when the squad plays Hiram (Ohio) College at 11:00 a.m. and the College of St. Benedict (Minn.) at 1:00 p.m. EST.
