CLERMONT, Fla. – Sophomore starting pitcher Carsin Conner admitted there were some nerves in her return to the mound after missing her freshman year with an injury, but it didn't take the hurler long to find her form.
Conner tossed a three-hit shutout in her first game action in a year, striking out five as the Greyhounds defeated Houghton (N.Y.) College, 13-0, in five innings on Wednesday afternoon in the Spring Games at the National Training Center in Florida.
The Greyhounds (4-0) immediately supported their starting pitcher, posting seven runs in the home half of the first inning. From there, Conner took care of business.
"I felt calm once I knew I had my teammates behind me," Conner said. "They always have my back. I was pretty anxious and my heart was racing because it's been so long. I think I did alright and I've felt better physically than I've felt in a long time. I keep getting stronger."
Moravian boasted 13 different players with a hit and nine with an RBI in Wednesday's victory. The Greyhounds scored in each of their four frames and totaled 14 hits to remain perfect on their Spring Break trip to the Sunshine State.
Conner worked out of a jam in both the first and second innings, holding Houghton scoreless despite runners reaching third base in both frames. The sophomore rung up her first of five Houghton batters with a runner on third and one out, then coaxed a groundout to shortstop.
Moravian's bats exploded in the home half of the first as the Greyhounds batted around in their first licks for the second straight game. Junior center fielder Dior George went 2-for-2 in the inning with a triple, a run scored and an RBI. Senior catcher Cassie Ernst ripped an RBI double, while freshman shortstop Lily Shontz and senior second baseman Eavan Matz each added RBI singles.
George capped the inning with her RBI triple to plate Matz for the 7-0 lead.
"We're all very excited and enthused about how this season can turn out," Conner said. "As long as we keep up the intensity and have each other's back, we'll be solid. I'll take it one game at a time, just like my team does. It was nice to have a calm game for my first game back. We kept the intensity up but it was nice to have a smooth game."
Senior Taylor Mihalik smacked an RBI double in the second to give Moravian a 9-0 lead. Senior infielder Leann Ventriglia led off the bottom of the third with a hard-hit double down the left field line, and came around to score on a Houghton wild pitch.
Freshman Victoria Conner picked up her first career RBI with a single to right-center and classmates Julie Siragusa and Alexis Wiggley each notched their second career RBIs in the innings to set the final score at 13-0.
Conner picked up three strikeouts over her final two innings to clinch a victory in her return to action.
Moravian looks to carry the momentum from a 4-0 start to the season with a doubleheader scheduled at the NTC on Thursday. The Greyhounds face Neumann University at 1 p.m. and will take on Aurora (Ill.) University immediately after.
To follow live stats for the Greyhounds' remaining four games at the Spring Games, click here.
May 21, 2014
Dalickas Selected to NFCA All-America Second Team
May 3, 2014
Softball Sees Season End in Loss to Susquehanna
April 28, 2014
DeLucia & Sullivan Honored by Landmark Conference
April 26, 2014
Dalickas Breaks HR & RBI Season Records in Sweep of Juniata
April 24, 2014
Greyhounds Sweep Scranton to Clinch Landmark Tourney Berth
April 24, 2014
Four Softball Players Ranked in NCAA Statistics
April 22, 2014
Softball Postpones Scranton to April 24; Cancels Ramapo DH
April 18, 2014
Softball Scores 28 Runs in Sweep of Staten Island
April 17, 2014
Softball Walks Off with Split vs. Catholic
April 15, 2014
Moravian Postpones Events for April 15
April 14, 2014
Tillou Honored as Landmark Softball Pitcher of the Week
April 14, 2014
Softball Powers Past Delaware Valley to Run Win Streak to 15
April 13, 2014
Softball Runs Winning Streak to 13 with Sweep of Ursinus
April 12, 2014
Softball Win Streak to 11 with Sweep at Elizabethtown
April 10, 2014
Moravian Hosts Student-Athlete Appreciation Event
April 10, 2014
Softball Sweeps Muhlenberg to Clinch Matte Award
April 9, 2014
Softball Makes Schedule Adjustments for Remaining Games
April 7, 2014
Dalickas Named Landmark Softball Player of the Week
April 5, 2014
Sunday Softball vs. Ramapo Postponed
April 3, 2014
Dalickas, Pitching Power Greyhounds to Sweep of Drew
April 1, 2014
Softball Uses Long Ball to Sweep Centenary
March 28, 2014
Softball Postpones Drew Doubleheader to April 3
March 26, 2014
Softball versus Ursinus Postponed for March 27
March 23, 2014
Dalickas, Matz Power Hounds to Split with Misericordia
March 22, 2014
Softball Drops Twinbill at Susquehanna in Landmark Opener
March 18, 2014
Hounds Split Doubleheader With TCNJ in Home Opener
March 10, 2014
Mack & Sullivan Honored by Landmark Conference
March 7, 2014
Spartans Make Their Case in 3-2 Defeat of Softball Team
March 6, 2014
UPDATE: Florida Storm Forces Schedule Changes
March 5, 2014
Softball Settles in for 16-4 Victory Over Grove City
March 3, 2014
Mack Leads Offensive Attack in 13-2 Victory vs. Marywood
March 3, 2014
Greyhounds Open Softball Season With 5-1 Win Over Thiel
February 28, 2014
Softball Squad Seeks Return to Championship Culture in 2014
February 24, 2014
Softball Selected Second in Landmark Preseason Poll
February 7, 2014
Softball Schedule Begins With Challenging Spring Break Test
January 20, 2014
Moravian SAAC Hosts Sophomore Leadership Event
December 20, 2013
Sergas & Ernst Named 2014 Moravian Softball Captains
December 3, 2013
Softball Teams Up with Northampton Food Bank
November 8, 2013
Moravian Welcomes 2013 Hall of Fame Class and Herbstman Award Winner
October 8, 2013
7 Greyhounds Named 2012-13 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes