BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The No. 13 ranked Moravian College softball team swept its fourth straight doubleheader and extended its winning streak to 15 games with an 11-3, five inning victory in the first game and an 8-1 triumph in the second game versus defending Landmark Conference Champion Susquehanna University at Blue & Grey Field Saturday afternoon.
The Greyhounds, now 17-3 overall and 6-0 in Landmark Conference play, had 16 hits in the opener led by freshman right fielder Brooke Wehr, who was 3-for-4 with two runs and a double. Senior catcher Janae Matos was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a double while junior third baseman Madison Shaneberger, sophomore left fielder Lauren Goetz and freshman shortstop Maddisen Bieber were also 2—for-3 with Shaneberger connecting on a home run. Junior designated player Kaela Kane was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a double.
Senior Josie Novak improved to 8-2 in the circle as she allowed three runs on four hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts.
The River Hawks scored twice in the top of the second inning before Moravian took the lead with three runs in the bottom half of the second. Shaneberger led off the inning with a solo home run, her second homer of the season. Senior first baseman Jean Markovic followed with a single and eventually scored on an RBI single by Wehr. Matos roped an RBI single as Goetz raced across the plate after hitting a single early in the frame.
The Blue and Grey added a run in the third inning when freshman second baseman Shannon Brogan doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single by Bieber, and the Greyhounds pushed the lead to 5-2 in the fourth inning when Matos reached on an RBI fielder's choice as Wehr scored after doubling.
Susquehanna scored its final run of the game in the top of the fifth inning while the Hounds responded with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Bieber and Wehr both singled before racing home on a two-RBI double by Kane. Matos followed with an RBI double to plate Kane, and junior pinch runner Ashley Gindle scored on an error. Brogan drove in the final run with an RBI ground out as junior center fielder Kat Spilman scored.
Moravian finished off the game via the NCAA run rule with one tally in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore pinch runner Emily Stanilious scored on an RBI single by Kane.
The Greyhounds added 12 more hits in the second game with Brogan, Shaneberger and Markovic each going 2-for-3 with Brogan adding two runs, three RBIs and a homer. Spilman also connected on a home run in game two.
Senior Amanda Carisone allowed one run on six hits while striking out two batters to improve to 9-1 on the season.
The River Hawks scored first once again with a run in the top of the first inning. That lead would hold until the Greyhounds scored three times in the bottom of the fourth frame. Matos drew a one-out walk and scored on a two-run homer by Spilman, her third round-tripper of the season. Brogan followed with a single and would cross the plate on an RBI single by Markovic.
The Blue and Grey tacked on three more runs in the fifth inning when Wehr led off with a single, Spilman walked with two outs and Brogan followed with a three-run homer to center field, her second home run of the spring. Moravian finished the scoring with a pair of runs in the sixth frame when Markovic led off with a single and scored on an RBI double by Goetz. Stanilious came on to run and scored on an RBI single from Kane.
The Hounds are slated to return to action on Thursday, April 12 in a non-conference doubleheader at rival Muhlenberg College beginning at 3:00 p.m. in Allentown.
