BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team swept visiting Ramapo College of New Jersey in a non-conference doubleheader Thursday at Blue & Grey Field by scores of 7-3 and 10-4 in a battle of NCAA Division III regionally ranked teams.
The initial 2012 NCAA Division III regional rankings were released earlier in the day Thursday with Ramapo ranked fifth in the East Region followed by the Greyhounds at sixth. Thursday's ranking was the first of three before the 2012 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
The Roadrunners jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the opening contest when senior outfielder Danielle Rothenberger hit a two-out, solo home run to left center field, her eighth homer of the season.
Ramapo loaded the bases in the top of the third inning but the Moravian defense stepped up and didn't allow the Roadrunners to extend their lead.
The Greyhounds tied the game in the bottom half of the third inning. Sophomore outfielder Taylor Mihalik led off with a single, and she scored on a two-out RBI single by junior designated player Alyssa Fegely.
Ramapo moved back in front, 2-1, in the top of the fourth on a one-out solo home run by junior first baseman Janet Brown to center field, her third homer of the season.
Moravian would answer in the bottom of the fourth inning and tie the game at 2-2 when sophomore catcher Cassie Ernst connected on a solo home run to right field for her fifth homer of the year.
The Greyhounds took their first lead of the game, 6-4, with four runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Mihalik led off with a single and freshman outfielder Dior George drew a walk with an out. The pair would score on an error by the Roadrunners on a ground ball hit by senior pitcher Jenna Carmon. After Ernst singled up the middle, junior third baseman Shannen Mohr connected on a two-RBI double off the left field fence to score Carmon and Ernst.
Moravian would extend its lead to 7-2 with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. George reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on an RBI single down the right field line from Carmon.
The Roadrunners pushed a run across the plate in the top of the seventh to finish the scoring in the opening game. Junior second baseman Amanda Kent singled up the middle past the second baseman and scored on an RBI single from sophomore pinch hitter Harley Masiello with two outs. Ramapo loaded the bases before Carmon struck out the final batter to end the game.
The Greyhounds had a 10-7 edge in hits in the opener with Mihalik going two-for-three. Ernst and Fegely each went two-for-four for Moravian.
Carmon improved to 13-5 in the circle after allowing three runs on seven hits and five walks to go with five strikeouts. Carmon moved into fourth in school history with 299 career strikeouts, and the victory was her 66th career win.
Senior Lauren Shaw took the loss for Ramapo after giving up seven runs, just three earned, on ten hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts.
The Greyhounds would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the second contest. George singled up the middle to start the stanza, and she scored on a two-out RBI single to right field by Ernst.
Moravian scored twice in the second to push its lead to 3-0. Junior first baseman Amanda Dizinno was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and she scored on an error in the outfield on a single by George. George, who took second on the play, scored on an RBI single past the shortstop by Fegely. The Greyhounds did leave runners at second and third in the inning.
Ramapo would get on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the third inning when freshman outfielder Jaclyn Lima singled with one out and scored on a RBI single from junior catcher Lisa Orlando to left field.
The Greyhounds would push seven runs home in the bottom of the third inning to take a 10-1 lead. Freshman outfielder Jenn Dalickas hit a one-out single before Dizinno reached on a fielder's choice. Mihalik followed with an RBI single off the first base bag and down the right field line to score Dalickas. Junior shortstop Brook Kowal the connected on a two-RBI double to center field to score Dizinno and Mihalik, and Kowal would score on an RBI single from George. After Fegely singled, Carmon added an RBI double down the left field line, right over the third base bag. Ernst walked to load the bases to bring up Mohr, who had started the inning with a ground out. Mohr would connect on a two-RBI single down the left field line to score Fegely and Carmon before Ernst was thrown out at third for the second out of the inning.
The Roadrunners added two runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut Moravian's lead to 10-3. Junior third shortstop Kelsey Higgins led off with a single and scored on an RBI double to left center by Kent. Kent come across the plate on an RBI fielder's choice by senior outfielder Tiffany Fischer with the bases loaded.
Ramapo would score a run in the top of the seventh to set the final score at 10-4. Senior outfielder Tiffany Fischer doubled with one out and crossed the plate on an RBI single from freshman outfielder Taylor Boffalo.
Moravian had a 14-8 advantage in hits in the second game with George going three-for-four. Mihalik and Fegely each went two-for-three for the Greyhounds while Mohr was two-for-four. Lima was two-for-two to lead the Roadrunners while Higgins was two-for-three.
Fegely improved to 4-1 in the circle for Moravian, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits and two walks to go with six strikeouts. Ramapo used three pitchers in the game with sophomore Nicole Schneider taking her first loss of the season after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits and two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Massiello tossed 2 2/3 innings with two runs on four hits and a walk to go along with a pair of strikeouts before freshman Erica Fisher tossed the final inning with a hit and a walk.
The Greyhounds will return to action on Saturday, April 21 when the host Juniata College in a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Blue & Grey Field beginning at 1:00 p.m.
