BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The top seeded Moravian University softball team defeated fifth seed Lycoming College, 3-2, and second seed The Catholic University of America, 2-1 in eight innings, Saturday at Blue & Grey Field to reach the championship round of the 2024 Landmark Conference Tournament. 

How It Happened – Lycoming

• The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a solo home run
• The Greyhounds countered in the bottom of the first as sophomore catcher Marcie Silberman hit a two-out solo homer to tie the game at 1-1. Silberman's homer extended her school and Landmark Conference record total to 15 for the season, and it was her 21st career home run as well as the Hounds' 33rd homer of the season to tie the program record
• Moravian pushed a pair of runs home in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-1 edge. Freshman center fielder Shayla Morgan reached on an error to lead off, and she moved to third on a single by junior shortstop Holly Walter. After Walter stole second, junior first baseman Lindsey Gawrys hit a two-RBI double to right center to send Morgan and Walter across the plate
• Lycoming pulled within a run in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI fielder's choice
• Senior Madi Cunningham improved to 16-2 on the season in the circle as she allowed two runs on four hits to go with seven strikeouts

How It Happened – Catholic

• The Blue & Grey plated the first run of the contest in the bottom of the third inning for a 1-0 advantage. Sophomore right fielder Sarah DeStefano singled with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch and over to third on a bunt single by Morgan. Walter hit an RBI fielder's choice to bring in DeStefano with the opening run
• The Cardinals knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI double
• With the contest still tied after the regulation seven innings, the squads headed for extra innings
• Moravian scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Senior second baseman Ajala Elmore led off with a single down the right field line, and she eventually raced home when Morgan reached on an error
• Sophomore Natalie Otto went the distance in the circle, allowing a run on six hits and four walks to go with five strikeouts as she improved to 11-3 on the season

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had eight hits on the day with Elmore going 2-for-5 and a run scored
• Silberman was 2-for-6 with a run, an RBI and a homer to give her 106 total bases on the year to tie the Greyhounds' single season mark
• Walter, DeStefano and Morgan each had a hit and a run scored
• Gawrys added a hit, a double and two RBIs
• The Hounds have advanced to the championship round of the Landmark Conference Tournament for the 13th time in the 16-year history of the tournament, and the Blue & Grey will be looking for their 11th Landmark title on Sunday. Nine of previous 13 trips to the championship round have seen Moravian come from the winner's bracket and only three times – 2010, 2011 and 2017 – has the if necessary game been needed and only once have the Greyhounds lost twice on the final day of the tournament, that being in 2017 to Susquehanna University

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Sunday, May 12 vs. To Be Determined in 2024 Landmark Conference Championship Round, 1:00 p.m.