SELINSGROVE, Pa. --- The second seeded Moravian College softball team dropped a 7-1 decision to third seed The Catholic University of America in the opening round of the 2013 Landmark Conference Tournament hosted by Susquehanna University Friday.
The loss was the first in an opening round game of the conference tournament for the Greyhounds since the 1996 season. That was the program's second of now 19 straight postseason appearances, and 1996 had been the only time before Friday that Moravian had dropped the opening game of the conference tournament in 16 previous trips to the conference playoffs.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a bases loaded, three-RBI double to left centerfield by senior first baseman Nina Curto after two outs, an error and a pair of walks.
Catholic extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the third inning while leaving the bases loaded. Sophomore designated player Tori Marcavage had a two-out RBI single in the inning.
The Cardinals pushed the lead to 7-0 in the top of the fourth when Curto was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Marcavage followed with a two-RBI single.
The Greyhounds would break up a no-hit bid by Catholic junior pitcher Victoria Capozucca when junior catcher Cassie Ernst and senior first baseman Amanda Dizinno each singled in the bottom of the fifth. However, Moravian was unable to score in the inning.
Moravian broke up the shutout bid in the bottom of the sixth with a run. Sophomore outfielder Dior George hit a bunt single with one out, and junior outfielder Miranda Sergas connected on a single after the second out of the inning. Ernst followed with an RBI single to right centerfield as George crossed the plate for the 100th time in her career, just the 11th player in school history to reach 100 runs scored. For Ernst, the RBI was the 99th of her career, moving her one away from becoming the sixth player in school history to reach 100 RBI.
The Cardinals had a 10-5 advantage in hits with Curto going two-for-two. Marcavage was two-for-four for Catholic while sophomore outfielder Amy Laughner was two-for-five. Ernst was two-for-three to lead Moravian at the plate.
Junior Elizabeth Tillou fell to 3-4 in the circle for Moravian after allowing four runs, just one earned, on six hits and two walks to go with one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings. Freshman Lindsay Sullivan tossed 4 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks to go with two strikeouts.
Capozucca earned the victory for Catholic to improve to 8-6 after allowing one run on five hits to go with four strikeouts.
The Greyhounds will return to action on Saturday, May 5th in the first elimination game of the tournament versus fourth seed Juniata College, which lost to host Susquehanna, 8-0 in six innings, in Friday's first game. The elimination game will begin at 9:00 a.m., and Moravian will need to win four games on Saturday to win its sixth straight Landmark Conference Championship and the program's 13th consecutive conference title.
If Moravian wins the opening game, they would play the loser of Friday's winner's bracket game between Susquehanna and Catholic to advance to the championship round and defeat the winner's bracket winner twice for the conference title and automatic berth to the 2013 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
