MAHWAH, N.J. --- The Moravian College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at Ramapo College of New Jersey Thursday, winning the opening game 10-1 before dropping the second contest 3-2.
The Greyhounds jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Dior George reached on an error to start the game before junior outfielder Miranda Sergas walked. Junior designated player Cassie Ernst was hit by a pitch to load the bases before sophomore outfielder Jenn Dalickas hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score George. Senior first baseman Amanda Dizinno hit another RBI sacrifice fly to score Sergas, and Ernst scored on an RBI single from senior pitcher Alyssa Fegely.
Moravian added a run in the top of the second for a 4-0 lead when Sergas connected on an RBI double to score junior catcher Taylor Mihalik, who had reached on an error. After Sergas' hit, Ernst was hit by another pitch, the 26th time this season she has been hit by a pitch, breaking the NCAA Division III single season record of 25 set by Amanda Clark from the University of Redlands in 2011. Clark has been hit 22 times this season.
The Roadrunners would get on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the third on an RBI single from junior outfielder Caitlin Smith.
The Greyhounds scored three times in the top of the fifth to push the lead to 7-1. Fegely led off with a double and scored on an RBI double from Mihalik. George added a two-RBI double to score Mihalik and junior second baseman Eavan Matz.
Moravian pushed its lead to 10-1 with three more runs in the top of the seventh inning. George and senior pinch hitter Shannen Mohr reached on errors before Dalickas connected on an RBI single to score George, tying Tanya Thear's school record for 48 runs in a season. Fegely finished the scoring with an RBI single that scored Sergas, who had come back in the game to run for Mohr.
The Greyhounds had an 11-2 advantage in hits in the opening game Fegely going three-for-five with two RBIs. Sergas was two-for-two in the game.
Fegely improved to 10-2 in the circle after allowing an unearned run on two hits and two walks to go with six strikeouts. Junior Harley Masiello suffered the loss for Ramapo, allowing seven runs, just three earned, on seven hits and three walks to go with one strikeout in 4 1/3 innings of action. Freshman Danielle Isenberg tossed the final 2 2/3 innings with three unearned runs on four hits and one strikeout.
In the second game, Moravian took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Dalickas led off the inning with a solo home run to left field, her fourth homer of the season.
The Greyhounds made their lead 2-0 with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Freshman pitcher Lindsay Sullivan led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by junior third baseman Rachel DeLucia.
Moravian would load the bases in the top of the seventh inning but was unable to score.
Ramapo scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to win the game. Senior shortstop Kelsey Higgins led off the inning with a solo homer to center field, her first home run of the season. Freshman designated player Tess Sala had a two-out RBI single to tie the game before freshman third baseman Mikayla Melendez hit an RBI single to win the game.
The Roadrunners had a 9-4 advantage in hits in the second contest with Sala going two-for-four and senior designated player Lisa Orlando was two-for-three.
Junior Nicole Schneider earned the win in the circle for Ramapo, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk to go with one strikeout. Sullivan took the loss for the Greyhounds after giving up three runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out two batters.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, April 20th in a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Juniata College beginning at 1:00 p.m.
