MEDFORD, Mass. --- The Moravian University softball squad scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat host and No. 7 Tufts (Mass.) University, 4-1, in the final game of the 2023 NCAA Division III Medford (Mass.) Regional over two days to advance to the NCAA Division III Super Regionals for the third time in program history.

How It Happened

• The Greyhounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a solo home run by sophomore first baseman Lindsey Gawrys, her first home run of the season and the seventh of her career
• It started raining during the third inning, and with Moravian batting in the top of the seventh inning, it began to rain harder to the point that contest was suspended to Sunday at noon with the rain forecasted to continue throughout the day and overnight
• When the game resumed, Moravian was retired in order in the top of the seventh
• The Jumbos had three hits and a pair of fielder's choices in the bottom of the seventh to knot the score at 1-1 and force extra innings. The Hounds did throw a runner out at the plate in the inning on one of the fielder's choice plays
• The Greyhounds answered with three runs in the top of the eighth frame to retake the lead, 4-1. Sophomore third baseman Holly Walter connected on a one-out single to shortstop, and she moved to third when junior left fielder Mya Zettlemoyer reached on an error by Tufts. Gawrys followed with an RBI double to right center field to bring in Walter and move Zettlemoyer to third base. Freshman catcher Marcie Silberman reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases as the throw to get Zettlemoyer going back to third base was late. Sophomore right fielder Sage Snyder drew an RBI walk to push Zettlemoyer home with an insurance run. After the second out of the inning, freshman pitcher Sarah DeStefano hit a slow-rolling ground ball between the pitching circle and the plate for an RBI single that scored Gawrys
• DeStefano got two quick outs in the bottom of the eighth before the Jumbos hit a double and drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. DeStefano would force a fly ball to center field caught by sophomore center fielder Jessica Forder to seal the victory
• DeStefano was selected as the 2023 NCAA Division III Medford (Mass.) Regional Most Outstanding Player, and she was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Gawrys, Silberman and sophomore pitcher Madi Cunningham  

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had five hits in the game with Gawrys going 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs, a homer and a double
• DeStefano had a hit and an RBI while Walter and Zettlemoyer both added a hit and scored a run. Snyder contributed an RBI as well
• In the circle, DeStefano allowed a run on five hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts in eight innings of work as she improved to 16-2 this season
• The Regional title for the Greyhounds was the sixth for the program as the squad joins the 2004, 2007, 2010, 2015 and 2018 teams. The 2004, 2007 and 2010 teams earned berths in the Division III Championships Series with their regional championships while the 2015, 2018 and 2023 squads earned berths in the Super Regionals with a change in format by the NCAA
• First-year Head Coach Josh Baltz is 3-1 in NCAA Tournament action as the Greyhound program improved to 49-40 in 19 NCAA Tournament berths

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Friday, May 26 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in NCAA Division III Super Regional, 2:00 p.m.