BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The No. 10 Moravian College softball team swept its ninth straight doubleheader, defeating rival Muhlenberg College, 3-0 and 8-2, in a pair of non-conference game at Blue & Grey Field Thursday afternoon.
The Greyhounds, now 25-3 on the year and their 20th straight win, had eight hits in the opener with senior third baseman Madison Shaneberger and sophomore shortstop Maddisen Bieber both going 2-for-3. Freshman center fielder Cameron Cassidy added a two-RBI triple for the Hounds.
Freshman Alexandria Scheeler made the start in the circle and improved to 11-0 in her debut season as she scattered three hits with no walks and a career-high six strikeouts for her second shutout of the spring.
The Blue and Grey jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning of the opener. Shaneberger and Bieber hit back-to-back singles before junior third baseman Lauren Goetz reached on a fielder's choice. Cassidy ripped a two-RBI triple to left center as Bieber and Goetz raced around the bases.
Moravian added a run in the bottom of the fifth for a 3-0 edge. Sophomore catcher Brooke Wehr hit a one-out single while junior right fielder Emily Stanilious reached on a bunt single. Senior left fielder Kat Spilman followed with an RBI single as Wehr came in from second base.
The Greyhounds knocked out 15 hits in game two with sophomore second baseman Shannon Brogan going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Goetz, Spilman and Stanilious were all 2-for-3 with Goetz and Spilman connecting on home runs while Scheeler and Bieber were both 2-for-4.
Junior Paige Lesher was the starter in the circle for the Blue and Grey and tossed the first 2.1 innings while sophomore Meghan Bauer came on to pitch 4.2 innings of relief with six strikeouts as she improved to 2-1 on the year.
The Hounds took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Stanilious singled with one out and Spilman drew a walk before an RBI single by Brogan and an error on the plate allowed both Stanilious and Spilman to score. Scheeler followed with a hit, one at-bat after her 21-game hitting streak came to an end in the first game, to put runners on the corners but Moravian would not score again in the inning.
The Greyhounds added two more runs in the bottom of the second for a 4-0 edge. Goetz led off the frame with a solo home run to left field, her team-leading 10th home run of the season and 13th of her career to move into a tie for eighth in school history. Cassidy reached on an infield single and would race home from second base on an RBI single down the right field line by Stanilious.
The Mules would get two runs in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 4-2.
Moravian scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to push the advantage to 5-2. Wehr led off with an infield single and scored from second base on an RBI single down the right field line by Brogan.
The Blue and Grey scored another run in fifth frame when Bieber led off with a single, Goetz followed with a single and Cassidy hit an RBI sacrifice fly to bring in freshman pinch runner Victoria Smith.
Spilman led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to left center field, her fourth homer of the season and 24th of her career to move into sole possession of third in school history, giving the Hounds a 7-2 lead. Brogan followed with a single and would score on an error on an infield single by Bieber.
The Greyhounds are slated to return to action on Saturday, April 13 when the squad hosts The Catholic University of America in a Landmark Conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Blue & Grey Field.
