BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball team began its 2019 Landmark Conference season with a doubleheader sweep of Drew University with a pair of five-inning victories, 12-1 and 10-0, at Blue & Grey Field Saturday afternoon.
"Today was a good start to the conference season," stated Head Coach John Byrne. "The whole team is hitting the ball very well right now and we really liked their approach at the plate today. Alex and Paige gave us two more good outings in the circle. We need to continue to show the effort from today as we continue through the season."
The Greyhounds, now 11-3 overall this season after sweeping their second straight doubleheader and winning their sixth consecutive game, had ten hits in the opener with sophomore designated player Shannon Brogan going 2-for-2 with two runs, a double and a triple. Freshman center fielder Cameron Cassidy was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs while freshman pitcher Alexandria Scheeler was 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Sophomore catcher Brooke Wehr and senior third baseman Madison Shaneberger both scored twice.
Scheeler made the start in the circle to improve to 5-0 on the year. She allowed an unearned run on three hits to go with three strikeouts.
The Blue and Grey jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Wehr led off with a single and Brogan drew a two-out walk before Scheeler connected on her first collegiate homer to right field. Shaneberger followed with a double and would race home when Goetz reached on an error.
The Rangers scored a run in the top of the second inning and the Greyhounds responded with three more runs to push the advantage to 7-1. Cassidy led off with a single and stole second base before scoring on an error on a ball hit by Wehr. Wehr eventually raced home on a throwing error while Brogan tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
Moravian added five runs in the home half of the third frame for a 12-1 edge. Shaneberger drew a walk and sophomore shortstop Maddisen Bieber singled. After a wild pitch, junior first baseman Lauren Goetz connected on a sacrifice fly to bring in Shaneberger. Cassidy ripped an RBI triple to bring in Bieber while Cassidy raced home on an RBI single by junior right fielder Emily Stanilious. Senior left fielder Kat Spilman ripped an RBI single as Stanilious raced home, and Spilman scored the final run of the inning on an RBI double by Brogan.
The Hounds added another 11 hits in the second game with Brogan going 2-for-2 with another double. Bieber, Goetz and Scheeler were all 2-for-3 with Goetz hitting a pair of doubles and driving in four runs and Bieber and Scheeler each scoring twice with Scheeler adding two RBIs. Wehr was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run, her third of the season.
Junior Paige Lesher improved to 6-1 in the circle with her second shutout of the season as she scattered four hits to go with four strikeouts.
Moravian jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Wehr led off with a solo homer to right field, her 15th career homer and eighth time to lead off the first inning for the Greyhounds. Stanilious and Spilman walked and would both race home on a two-RBI single by Scheeler. Shaneberger drew a walk and both Scheeler and Shaneberger crossed the plate on a two-RBI double off of Goetz's bat.
The Blue and Grey added two runs in the bottom of the third to stretch the advantage to 7-0. Shaneberger reached on an error and Bieber had an infield single before Wehr connected on a two-RBI single down the right field line.
Moravian added three runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 10-0 lead. Brogan, Scheeler and Bieber all singled to load the bases before Goetz ripped a two-RBI double to right center field bringing in Brogan and Scheeler. Cassidy followed with an RBI ground out as Bieber raced home.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action on Thursday, March 21 in a non-conference doubleheader at Ursinus College beginning at 3:00 p.m. in Collegeville.
