ALLENTOWN, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team improved its winning streak to nine straight games with a non-conference doubleheader sweep of rival Muhlenberg College, 3-0 & 6-1, Thursday afternoon.
The Greyhounds are now 21-7 on the season, the 19th straight 20-win season under the direction on 19-year head coach John Byrne, who earned his 600th career victory this past Monday.
Moravian scored the only runs of the opening game in the top of the second inning for the 3-0 victory. Sophomore catcher Cassie Ernst led off with an infield single before a sacrifice bunt by junior third baseman Shannen Mohr. Junior first baseman Amanda Dizinno followed with an RBI double down the right field line to score Ernst. After an infield single from sophomore outfielder Taylor Mihalik, junior designated player Alyssa Fegely doubled down the left field line, bringing in Dizinno and Mihalik, who beat the throw to the plate.
The Greyhounds had a 10-2 edge in hits in the first game with Dizinno and senior pitcher Jenna Carmon each going two-for-four. Freshman outfielder Dior George was two-for-three for Moravian, and she added two stolen bases.
In the circle, Carmon allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out two batters for her tenth win of the season, the fourth straight year Carmon has reached double figures in victories. Carmon, who has 63 career victories, earned her 20th career shutout, the fourth pitcher in school history to reach the plateau. Freshman pitcher Kelsey Jones suffered the loss for the Mules, allowing three runs on ten hits and a walk to go with four strikeouts.
In the second game, the Greyhounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. George led off the contest with a single and eventually scored on an RBI single from Carmon. Carmon crossed the plate on an RBI ground out from Dizinno.
Moravian would add three runs in the top of the third inning for a 5-0 lead. Mohr singled with two outs, moved to second on a single from Dizinno and scored on an RBI single by Mihalik. Fegely reached on an error that allowed Dizinno to score before an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Leann Ventriglia scored Mihalik for the 5-0 advantage.
The Mules would get on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the fourth inning, cutting Moravian's lead to 5-1. Junior outfielder Devon Barber led off the inning with a single, moved to second on an illegal pitch before an RBI single through the right side by junior catcher Elizabeth Sullivan.
The Greyhounds loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning after freshman pinch runner Bryanna Gifford was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning but Moravian was unable to score.
Moravian did extend its lead to 6-1 with a run in the top of the sixth. Carmon singled to lead off the stanza, and she scored on a two-out RBI double to right field off of Dizinno's bat.
The Greyhounds had a 14-4 advantage in hits in the second contest with George, Carmon and Dizinno each going three-for-four. Mihalik and Ventriglia were both two-for-four for Moravian.
Fegely started in the circle for Moravian and tossed 3 1/3 innings with an unearned run on three hits and a three walks to go with a strikeout. Freshman Lizzie Mack came in to pitch the final 3 2/3 innings and earn her fourth win of the year after allowing a hit and a walk to go along with one strikeout.
Junior Angie Sisco suffered the loss for the Mules as she allowed six runs, only three earned, on 14 hits and a walk to go with a strikeout.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, April 14 in a Landmark Conference doubleheader at The University of Scranton beginning at 1:00 p.m.
