HUNTINGDON, Pa. --- The No. 17 Moravian College softball team swept its second straight Landmark Conference doubleheader on the road and extended its winning streak to 11 games with two victories at Juniata College Saturday, capturing an 8-5 come-from-behind win in the opener and an 11-3, five-inning triumph in the second contest.
The Greyhounds, now 13-3 overall and 4-0 in Landmark Conference play, were on the field for the first time in two weeks due to the weather. The Blue and Grey had nine hits in the opener with junior designated player Kaela Kane going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Junior centerfielder Kat Spilman and freshman right fielder Brooke Wehr each hit solo home runs in the game with Wehr scoring twice and driving in two runs.
Senior Josie Novak improved to 6-2 in the circle as she allowed five runs, three earned, on eight hits and four walks to go with six strikeouts to move into second in school history with 529 career strikeouts.
Moravian took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Wehr led off the game with a solo homer, her team-leading seventh home run of the season. It is the second time this spring that Wehr has led off the top of the first with a homer and the third time she has connected on a home run in the first inning.
The Blue and Grey extended the advantage to 2-0 in the second inning when senior first baseman Jean Markovic drew a walk and eventually scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Wehr. The Eagles would tie the game with two runs in the bottom of the second frame.
The Greyhounds retook the lead in the third when Spilman hit a one-out, solo home run, her second homer of the season.
Juniata tied the game again at 3-3 with a run in the fourth inning, and the Eagles moved in front with a run on the fifth inning.
Moravian answered with five runs in the top of the sixth inning to take an 8-4 advantage. Markovic led off with a single and eventually scored on an RBI walk by Kane. Senior catcher Janae Matos would reach on an error as freshman shortstop Maddisen Bieber scored after hitting a single after Markovic. After an out, freshman second baseman Shannon Brogan ripped a two-RBI single to score Wehr and Kane. Junior pinch runner Ashley Gindle finished off the inning as she raced home on a wild pitch.
The Eagles added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning but were unable to get any closer.
The Greyhounds connected for 14 hits in the second contest as Bieber went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and her first collegiate home run while Spilman was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Wehr and Markovic were both 2-for-3 in the game with Markovic adding three RBIs and a triple while junior third baseman Madison Shaneberger was 2-for-4.
Senior Amanda Carisone improved to 7-1 in the circle this year as she allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk to go with one strikeout in the complete game.
Moravian took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Brogan led off the frame with a single and scored on an RBI triple by Markovic down the right field line. Bieber followed with a two-run homer to center field.
The Greyhounds added a run in the top of the third when Matos led off with a walk and scored on a bases loaded, RBI single from Shaneberger.
The Blue and Grey tacked on seven more runs in the top of the fifth inning for an 11-0 advantage. Spilman led off with a single, and Brogan reached on an error and Shaneberger singled to load the bases. Markovic connected on a two-RBI single up the middle as Spilman and Brogan crossed the plate while Shaneberger crossed the plate on a double play. Wehr connected on an RBI single to chase Markovic home, and Kane connected on an RBI single as Wehr raced across the plate. After Matos was hit by a pitch, Spilman hit a two-RBI single to score both Kane and Matos.
The Eagles scored three times in the bottom of the fifth but it wasn't enough to keep Greyhounds from winning by the NCAA eight-run rule.
The Hounds are slated to open their 2018 home season on Tuesday, April 3 when the squad hosts DeSales University in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Blue & Grey Field in Bethlehem.
