CAMBRIDGE, Mass. --- The Moravian University softball squad needed two wins to keep its season alive, and the Greyhounds swept No. 16 and host Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 5-2 and 8-0 in five innings Saturday to capture the 2023 NCAA Division III Cambridge (Mass.) Super Regional to stay alive and advance to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament for the fourth time in program history. 

How It Happened – Game #1

• The Hounds opened the scoring in the second game of the regional with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore pitcher Madi Cunningham singled down the left field line with one out, and she raced around the bases on a two-out RBI triple by sophomore third baseman Holly Walter to give the Blue & Grey the lead
• The Engineers tied the game with a run in the top of the fourth to even the score at 1-1
• MIT took a 2-1 edge with another run the top of the fifth
• Moravian took the lead back in the bottom half of the fifth frame. Freshman catcher Marcie Silberman ripped a one-out double to right center, and sophomore Sage Snyder connected on a two-run homer to straight away center field, her third homer of the season, to put the Greyhounds in the lead for good
• The Hounds added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 5-2 edge. Walter was hit by a pitch with one out, and junior left fielder Mya Zettlemoyer drew a walk. Sophomore first baseman Lindsey Gawrys loaded the bases with an infield single while Silberman reached on a fielder's choice with Walter thrown out at home. Snyder ripped a two-RBI single to center field as Zettlemoyer and Gawrys scored the final two runs of the game and force the if necessary contest in the best-of-three series
• Cunningham won her 17th game of the season in the circle as she allowed two runs on eight hits to go with one strikeout

How It Happened – Game #2

• Moravian was the visitor in the second game and jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Zettlemoyer, Gawrys and Silberman all hit one-out singles to load the bases before Snyder was hit by a pitch to force Zettlemoyer home with what would be the winning run. Junior designated player Emily Silberman connected on a two-RBI single down the left field line as Gawrys and Marcie Silberman raced home. Sophomore center fielder Jessica Forder followed with an RBI single up the middle as Snyder scored. Cunningham finished off the inning with an RBI sacrifice fly to chase freshman second baseman Hailey Tanner, who had come into run for Emily Silberman
• The Greyhounds scored twice in the top of the fourth for a 7-0 advantage. Zettlemoyer and Gawrys each hit one-out singles before Marcie Silberman ripped an RBI single to left center to score Zettlemoyer. Snyder followed with an RBI double to bring in Gawrys
• The Blue & Grey added a run in the top of the fifth for an 8-0 edge and the NCAA run rule. Junior shortstop Ajala Elmore doubled with two outs, and Walter connected on an RBI triple to right field to chase Elmore home
• Cunningham tossed a two-hit shutout to improve to 18-6 in the circle on the year while being selected as the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Super Regional
• Snyder went 3-for-6 with six RBIs, two runs, a double and a homer to be honored as the Most Outstanding Player of the Super Regional 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had 24 hits in the two games with Marcie Silberman going 5-for-7 with two runs, an RBI and a double
• Gawrys was 4-for-6 with three runs and a triple while Snyder went 3-for-6 to go along with six RBIs, two runs, a double and a homer, the third of her career
• Forder also connected on three hits to go with a double and an RBI while Walter had two hits, two RBIs and a triple
• Zettlemoyer contributed a pair of hits and scored twice while Emily Silberman posted two hits and two RBIs
• Cunningham recorded two hits and a run while Elmore added a hit, a double and scored once
• The Hounds are in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 19th time, and the Hounds are 51-41 all-time in NCAA Tournament action. The Blue & Grey have won six NCAA Regionals and have now reached the Championship Round four times including playing in the National Championship game in 2004. This season marks the third trip to the Super Regionals since the NCAA switched formats and the program's first Super Regional title
• The Greyhounds have now played 47 games this season, the second-most in program history, and the squad is guaranteed to tie the school record for games in a season at 49 set by the 2010 squad that reached the Division III Championship Round

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Thursday, June 1 vs. No. 1 Salisbury (Md.) University in 2023 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in Marshall, Texas, 11:00 a.m. CDT
• Friday, June 2 vs. TBD in 2023 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in Marshall, Texas