BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from Kean University Thursday at Blue & Grey Field, winning the first game 1-0 on a shutout from senior pitcher Jenna Carmon and taking the second contest 5-4 in eight innings.
The Cougars would threaten first in the top of the second inning in the opening game with junior third baseman Courtney Melchionna leading off with a double to right field, but she would be stranded at third base. Melchionna added a single in the top of the fourth inning but would be left at second base.
Kean would get another runner to second base in the top of the fifth inning when sophomore outfielder Kelly Moorehead doubled down the right field line with one out, but she would be left there.
Moravian would finally breakthrough in the bottom half of the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead. Freshman outfielder Jenn Dalickas hit a double down the left field line with two outs that hit halfway up the six-foot fence. Junior first baseman Amanda Dizinno followed with a double down the right field line to score Dalickas. The Greyhounds would end up leading runners at second and third in the inning.
Kean had a 4-3 edge in hits in the opening game with Melchionna going two-for-two.
Carmon allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out eight batters. For Carmon, it is her 19th career shutout, moving her into a tied for fourth in school history. Freshman Courtney Yard went the distance for Kean, allowing a run on three hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts.
Moravian would have the first chance to score in the second contest in the bottom of the second inning after loading the bases with one out. However, a ground out with the out at the plate, and another runner thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch would end the threat.
The Cougars had a chance to score in the top half of the third inning with freshman designated player leading off with a single before being stranded at third base.
The Greyhounds would take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore designated player Cassie Ernst led off with a double and freshman Bryanna Gifford came into pinch run. Junior third baseman Shannen Mohr singled to put runners on the corners before Dalickas connected on an RBI sacrifice fly with Gifford beating the throw to the plate with the first run. After the second out of the inning, sophomore catcher Taylor Mihalik ripped an RBI triple down the right field line to score Mohr.
Kean would answer in the top half of the sixth inning on a one-out, solo home run to center field by senior shortstop Alicia Banz to cut the Moravian lead to 2-1.
Moravian got the run back in the bottom half of the sixth. Mohr doubled with one out and moved to third on a passed ball. At that point, sophomore Alycia Sabol came into pinch run. Dalickas would drive in Sabol with an RBI single past a diving shortstop to give the Greyhounds a 3-1 advantage.
In the top of the seventh inning, Kean would tie the game with a pair of runs. Freshman outfielder Maria Scopellito led off with a single and scored on a one-out, pinch hit RBI double from Moorehead. After an intentional walk to Banz, freshman pinch hitter Julie Braun connected on an RBI single to right field that scored junior pinch runner Kelsey Hannan, tying the game at 3-3. The Cougars loaded the bases before Melchionna popped out to end the inning.
Moravian would get sophomore outfielder Miranda Sergas to second base in the bottom of the seventh but would strand her there, forcing the game to extra innings.
Kean started the top of the eighth with freshman pinch runner Cat Riechers at second base with the international tiebreaker. After a wild pitch, sophomore outfielder Sandra Binkiewicz hit an RBI sacrifice fly to left field to score Riechers.
The Greyhounds would start their half of the eighth inning with Ernst at second base, and Ernst moved to third on a passed ball. Mohr would then hit an RBI single through the left side off of a diving shortstop glove to score Ernst and tie the game at 4-4. Dizinno singled with an out, and Mihalik drew a walk to load the bases for Moravian. After an out, George was hit by a pitch to bring Mohr across the plate with the winning run.
Moravian had an 11-8 edge in hits with Mohr going three-for-four while Dalickas was two-for-three and Ernst was two-for-four. Junior second baseman Katie Schuh led Kean at the plate with a two-for-four performance.
Junior Alyssa Fegely started in the circle for the Greyhounds and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks to go with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 inning of action. Sophomore Elizabeth Tillou tossed a third of an inning, allowing three hits and a walk while freshman Lizzie Mack tossed the final 1 1/3 innings to earn her second win of the season. Mack gave up an unearned run on a walk.
Freshman Ashlee Gieger took the loss for Kean, allowing five runs, four earned, on 11 hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts.
Moravian will return to action on Monday, April 9 in a non-conference doubleheader at Delaware Valley College starting at 3:30 p.m. This replaces a doubleheader at The United States Merchant Marine Academy originally scheduled for Saturday, April 7 that was cancelled for the 2012 season.
