HUNTINGDON, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team earned its 19th consecutive postseason appearance by clinching a berth in the 2013 Landmark Conference Tournament with a doubleheader sweep of Juniata College, 13-0 in five innings and 4-2, Saturday in Landmark Conference action.
The Greyhounds took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning of the opener when senior first baseman Amanda Dizinno connected on a one-out, solo home run to center field, her first homer of the season.
Moravian then scored five times in the top of the third inning for a 6-0 advantage. Sophomore outfielder Dior George led off with a walk, and she scored her school record 49th run of the season on an RBI double from junior outfielder Miranda Sergas. After the second out of the inning, Sergas scored on an infield single by sophomore designated player Jenn Dalickas. Dizinno chased Dalickas across the plate with an RBI single before senior pitcher Alyssa Fegely connected on a two-run homer to right centerfield, her first homer of the year.
The Greyhounds made their lead 9-0 with three runs in the fourth inning. Freshman outfielder Mary Schlosbon singled with one out and scored on a two-out RBI single by junior catcher Cassie Ernst. Fegely would hit a two-RBI single later in the inning to score Ernst and Dalickas, who had walked.
Moravian finished the scoring with four runs in the top of the fifth before the NCAA eight-run rule took effect. Schlosbon had an RBI ground out while junior catcher Taylor Mihalik had an RBI single. Dizinno finished the scoring with a two-RBI single in the inning.
The Greyhounds had a 14-4 advantage in hits in the opening game with Dizinno going three-for-four. Fegely and Schlosbon were both two-for-three in the game.
Fegely improved to 11-2 in the circle for Moravian, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out four batters in 3 1/3 innings. Junior Elizabeth Tillou tossed the final 1 2/3 innings with one strikeout. Kelsea Decker was the starter for the Eagles and took the loss.
Moravian opened the scoring in the second game with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. George started the game with a walk, and Schlosbon added a single. After an out, Ernst connected on a two-RBI double to score George and Schlosbon.
The Greyhounds pushed the lead to 4-0 with two more runs in the top of the third. Sergas started with a one out walk, and she scored on an RBI single by Dalickas. Dalickas ended up scoring on a two-out RBI single by freshman pitcher Lindsay Sullivan.
Juniata scored its first run of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single from outfielder Jennifer Ashcraft. The Eagles added another run on the bottom of the seventh with an RBI infield single by shortstop Steph Frith but that would be as close as Juniata would get.
Moravian had a 6-5 edge in this in the second game. Ashcraft was the only player with multiple hits for either team, going two-for-three for the Eagles.
Sullivan snapped a three-game losing streak in the circle and improved to 10-3 for the Greyhounds. She allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out one batter. Aly Smith tossed a complete game for Juniata with four strikeouts and five walks.
Moravian will close out the 2013 regular season with a Landmark Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 27th at The Catholic University of America beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C. The Greyhounds head into the twinbill looking to clinch the top seed in the Landmark Conference Tournament for the fifth time in six seasons.
