CLERMONT, Fla. --- The Carroll (Wis.) University softball team held off a rally by 19th-ranked Moravian College to post a 7-6 victory at the National Training Center Thursday morning.
The Pioneers, now 7-2 on the year, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when senior second baseman Amanda Strutz singled to start the inning and scored on the first of five Moravian errors in the game.
Carroll pushed four more runs home in the bottom of the second inning to build a 5-0 lead. The first run of the inning scored on a wild pitch before an RBI double from senior outfielder Nicki Leden and a two-RBI single off the bat of sophomore third baseman Rebecca Menelle.
The Greyhounds, who fall to 3-5 on the season, answered with five runs in the top of the third inning to knot the score at 5-5. Freshman outfielder Dior George reached on a fielder's choice and would cross the plate with Moravian's first run of the game on an RBI single from junior second baseman Shannen Mohr. Freshman pinch runner Bryanna Gifford scored on an error while freshman shortstop Jenn Dalickas had an RBI single. Junior catcher Tori Thomas finished off the inning for the Greyhounds with a two-RBI double.
The Pioneers took the lead right back with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third inning on a two-RBI single by Strutz.
Moravian closed within a run, 7-6, in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single by George; however, the Greyhounds left two runners on base in the inning. Moravian would get a runner to third base in the top of the seventh inning with one out in an attempt to tie the game, but the runner was stranded at third as the Greyhounds left five runners in scoring position throughout the game.
Carroll had a 10-8 edge in hits in the game with Strutz and Leden each going three-for-four. Sophomore first baseman Brianna Ross was two-for-three for the Pioneers.
Each squad used three pitchers in the game. For Moravian, junior Alyssa Fegely started in the circle and allowed three runs, one earned, on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in 1 1/3 innings of action. Freshman Lizzie Mack took the loss for the Greyhounds after giving up four runs, two earned, on five hits in 1 1/3 innings. Sophomore Elizabeth Tillou tossed the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and striking out two batters.
Junior Christine Roggemann started for the Pioneers and allowed five runs, just one earned, on five hits in 2 2/3 innings while freshman Taylor Steinhilber earned the victory for Carroll with 3 1/3 innings of action that included a run on two hits and two walks. Sophomore Kristi Johnson tossed the final inning for the Pioneers, allowing one hit.
Moravian will close out its Spring Break trip to the National Training Center on Friday, March 9 with a pair of games. The Greyhounds will battle John Carroll (Ohio) University at 9:00 a.m. and then take on Simmons (Mass.) College at 1:00 p.m.
