BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with DeSales University Tuesday at Blue & Grey Field with the Greyhounds winning the opening game 7-1 and the Bulldogs taking the nightcap, 7-5.
The win for Moravian was its 23rd of the season, marking the 19th straight season the program has won at least 23 games under 19-year head coach John Byrne, who has a career mark of 604-191.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the opening game when senior outfielder Brianna Chilcoat reached on an error and scored on another error.
Moravian answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Freshman outfielder Dior George led off with a walk and scored on an RBI double off of the left field fence by sophomore catcher Cassie Ernst. Ernst and senior pitcher Jenna Carmon, who had singled before Ernst, both scored on a two-RBI double off the fence in right centerfield by freshman designated player Jenn Dalickas. The Greyhounds would leave the bases loaded in the inning.
Moravian added two more runs in the top of the second to build a 5-1 lead. George started the inning with a single, stole second base and scored on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore outfielder Miranda Sergas. Sergas would beat the throw to the plate on an RBI double off the left field fence by Carmon. Moravian ended up leaving runners at second and third in the inning.
The Greyhounds would extend their lead to 7-1 with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Sergas drew a walk to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI double from Dalickas. Junior first baseman Amanda Dizinno followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Ernst, who had been hit by a pitch. Moravian would leave the bases loaded for the second time in the game.
Moravian had a 9-2 advantage in hits in the opening game with George, Carmon, Dalickas and Dizinno each going two-for-three. Dalickas had a pair of doubles and three RBIs.
In the circle, Carmon won her 12th game of the season for the Greyhounds and the 65th of her career. Carmon allowed an unearned run on two hits to go with three strikeouts.
DeSales used three pitchers in the first game with freshman Rachel Vogel taking the loss after giving up three runs on three hits and two walks in a third of an inning. Junior Brittany Wilson tossed two third of an inning, allowing two runs, one earned on two hits while senior Katie Morrissey gave up two runs on four hits and three strikeouts in five innings of action.
The Greyhounds opened the scoring in the second game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Ernst drew a walk to start the inning before Dalickas connected on a two-run homer to center field, her team leading sixth homer of the season. Moravian would load the bases after the home run but would not score again in the inning.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the third inning with two runs. Freshman shortstop Taylor Kelly doubled with an out and Chilcoat singled. After an out and a stolen base by Chilcoat, senior pitcher Christine Petrilla hit a two RBI infield single with Chilcoat coming all the way around from second base to tie the game at 2-2.
DeSales would take its first lead of the day, 4-2, after a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman catcher Shelby Wilson led off with a single, and after an out, junior outfielder Courtney McKenna and freshman outfielder Kayla Adanalian each had bunt singles. Kelly followed with a two-RBI single off the left field fence to score Wilson and McKenna.
Moravian threatened in the bottom half of the fourth inning but ended up leaving runners at second and third.
The Greyhounds tied the game at 4-4 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Dalickas walked with an out and sophomore Alycia Sabol came in to pinch run. Junior third baseman Shannen Mohr reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corner before freshman pitcher Lizzie Mack hit a two-RBI triple to right field.
The Bulldogs moved back in front, 6-4, with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. Kelly had a two-out RBI double to score Adanalian before Chilcoat had an RBI single scoring Kelly.
In Moravian's half of the sixth, George led off with a single before two outs. The Greyhounds then drew three straight walks with Dizinno driving in George. However, Moravian left the bases loaded again and trailed 6-5 heading into the seventh inning.
DeSales extended its lead to 7-5 with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Freshman designated player Ericka Esposito led off the inning with a single and freshman Emily Artz came in to pinch run. After two outs, McKenna connected on an RBI single past the shortstop in the left centerfield to score Artz.
Moravian would get a runner in scoring position on in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to score and left a total of 12 runners on base in the contest.
The Bulldogs had a 14-8 edge in hits in the second contest with Kelly and Chilcoat each going three-for-four. McKenna was two-for-three in the contest for DeSales while Esposito finished two-for-four. Sophomore infielder Eavan Matz was two-for-three to lead the Greyhounds.
Petrilla earned the victory in the circle for the Bulldogs, allowing four runs on seven hits and five walks to go with one strikeout in five innings of action. Morrissey tossed the final two innings to earn her second save of the season with a run on four walks and a hit to go with a strikeout.
Mack took the loss for the Greyhounds, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk to go with a pair of strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Sophomore Elizabeth Tillou started for Moravian and gave up four runs, two of them earned, on nine hits and a walk to go with one strikeout in 3 1/3 innings.
Moravian will continue its ten-game home stand on Thursday, April 19 in a non-conference doubleheader versus Ramapo College of New Jersey beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Blue & Grey Field.
