MADISON, N.J. ---The 20th-ranked Moravian College softball team, playing for the first time in over two weeks, began its 2013 Landmark Conference season by splitting a doubleheader at Drew University with the Rangers winning the opening game, 5-2, and the Greyhounds taking the second contest, 6-5, Saturday.
The Rangers, who had lost 15 straight to Moravian since splitting the first doubleheader in the series back in 1996, took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of the opening game on an RBI single from shortstop Jeramie Barletta and an RBI walk by designated player Casey Reggiani.
The Greyhounds cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth inning with a run. Sophomore outfielder Dior George singled with one out and scored on an RBI double by junior catcher Cassie Ernst.
Drew answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Reggiani, and the Rangers added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off of a two-RBI double by second baseman Lexie Forsell to build a 5-1 lead.
Moravian scored a run in the seventh inning on an RBI single by senior pitcher Alyssa Fegely. However, the Greyhounds left two runners on base in the inning and nine in the game.
The Rangers had a 10-8 edge in hits with Forsell going three-for-four while outfielder Jennifer Mateo was two-for-four. Sophomore designated player Jenn Dalickas was two-for-three for the Greyhounds while junior outfielder Miranda Sergas was two-for-four.
Fegely suffered her first loss of the season in the circle for Moravian, falling to 4-1 after allowing five runs on ten hits and four walks to go with six strikeouts. Laura D'Ornellas earned the win for Drew with four walks and two strikeouts in the game.
George made sure the Greyhounds started the second game with an early lead as she led off the contest with a solo home run, her first homer of the season.
Drew answered right back in the bottom of the second on an RBI sacrifice fly from Forsell and an RBI double by Barletta to take a 2-1 lead.
Moravian tied the game in the top of the third inning with an RBI single by Ernst chasing George across the plate. The Greyhounds then retook the lead, 3-2, with a run in the top of the fourth inning when freshman first baseman Lindsay Sullivan had an RBI single to score junior shortstop Rachel DeLucia.
Moravian added a run in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single from junior second baseman Eavan Matz, and the Greyhounds pushed the lead to 6-2 with two runs in the top of the seventh inning when Dalickas had an RBI single that also had an error in the outfield.
The Rangers scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI double by Mateo and a two-RBI single from Forsell before Moravian recorded the final out of the game.
The Greyhounds had a 10-7 edge in hits in the second contest with Dalickas going three-for-four. George was two-for-four while Ernst was two-for-three in the game. Mateo and Barletta were each two-for-three for Drew.
Sophomore Lizzie Mack earned the win in the circle for Moravian, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks to go with two strikeouts in the victory. Junior Elizabeth Tillou earned a save after getting the final out of the game in relief. The Rangers used a pair of pitchers with Amy benedict taking the loss after pitching the first four innings of the game.
Moravian will be right back on the field as the Greyhounds host the College of Staten Island on Sunday, march 24th in a non-conference doubleheader at Blue & Grey Field starting at 1:00 p.m. These will be the Greyhounds' first two home games of the season.
