CLERMONT, Fla. --- The 14th–ranked Moravian College softball team picked up its second win of the day Thursday evening with a 9-5 victory over Misericordia University at the National Training Center as the Greyhounds improved to 7-1 on the season.
Moravian took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Junior third baseman Rachel DeLucia drew a walk to start the inning, and she crossed the plate on an RBI triple by junior outfielder Miranda Sergas. Senior designated player Alyssa Fegely connected on a two-out, RBI single that score Sergas.
Misericordia tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third. Senior outfielder Jen Cory led off with a single and scored on an RBI double from sophomore shortstop Mallory Getts. Two batters later, senior outfielder Caitlin Cromley connected on an RBI double to score Getts.
The Greyhounds answered right back in the top of the fourth inning to retake the lead, 5-2, with three runs. Senior first baseman Amanda Dizinno singled to start the inning before DeLucia drew the second of three walks in the game. Sophomore outfielder Dior George hit an RBI double to chase Dizinno across the plate before a two-RBI double by Sergas scored DeLucia and George.
Moravian scored three more times in the top of the sixth inning to push its lead to 8-2. DeLucia and George each drew walks with two outs before Sergas connected on another RBI double scoring DeLucia. The Greyhounds loaded the bases when junior catcher Cassie Ernst was hit by a pitch for the third time in the game and eighth time this season. After George was out at the plate on a fielder's choice, senior third baseman Shannen Mohr connected on a two-RBI single to score Sergas and Ernst.
The Cougars pushed three runs across the plate to cut Moravian's lead to 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth, and Misericordia had the tying run at the plate when the inning ended. Senior first baseman Amanda Polaha had an RBI single while freshman second baseman Whitney Ellenberg was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score a run. Cory scored the final run on a wild pitch with the bases loaded.
The Greyhounds added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when sophomore outfielder Jenn Dalickas singled to start the inning and scored on an RBI double by DeLucia.
Each team had nine hits in the game with Sergas leading Moravian at the plate with a three-for-five performance to go with four RBIs, two doubles and two runs scored. Cromley and senior designated player Kat LaBrie were both two-for-four for Misericordia.
Moravian freshman pitcher Carsin Conner earned the victory in the circle in relief. She tossed 2/3 innings of an inning in releif of freshman Lindsay Sullivan, who started for the Greyhounds and allowed two runs on six hits to go with two strikeouts in the first 3 1/3 innings of the game. Sophomore Lizzie Mack allowed three runs on two hits and two walks to go with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings while junior Elizabeth Tillou earned her first career save, allowing a hit and striking out two batters in 1 1/3 innings of action.
Junior Jess Armillay took the loss for the Cougars, allowing eight runs on six hits and four walks with a strikeout in 5 1/3 innings while Cromley tossed the final 1 2/3 innings with a run on three hits and a strikeout.
The Greyhounds will close out their weeklong trip to the National Training Center on Friday with games versus Case Western Reserve (Ohio) University at 1:00 p.m. and Coe (Iowa) College at 3:00 p.m.
