BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The top seed and host Moravian University softball squad posted a 5-1 victory over fifth seed Lycoming College to claim the 2024 Landmark Conference Softball Championship at Blue & Grey Field Sunday afternoon.

How It Happened

• The Greyhounds took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior left fielder Sage Snyder singled to lead off the frame, and she stole second base. After an out, senior second baseman Ajala Elmore connected on an RBI double to right field to score Snyder. Sophomore third baseman Sydney Andrews followed with an RBI double to right center as Elmore raced home
• The Warriors cut the score to 2-1 in top of the sixth with an RBI double
• The Blue & Grey countered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to finish the scoring. Snyder led off with a triple while senior designated player Emily Silberman reached on an error. After freshman Cassandra Farrell came in to pinch run for Silberman, Elmore connected on a three-run homer to left field for her fifth home run of the season and tenth of her career
• Senior Madi Cunningham improved to 17-2 on the season in the circle as she allowed one run on six hits to go with five strikeouts

Conference Championship History

• Senior second baseman Ajala Elmore was selected as the 2024 Landmark Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player. Elmore went 4-for-9 with three runs, four RBIs, a double and a homer at the plate and made several diving stops at second base in the field during the tournament
• For Moravian, the Landmark Conference Championship is the 11th in 16 tournaments since the conference began in 2007-08, and it is the Greyhounds' 19th overall conference title since 2000. It is the Blue & Grey's second straight conference championship under the direction of Head Coach Josh Baltz, who took over the program prior to the 2023 season
• Sunday marked the 13th time in 16 Landmark Conference tournaments that the Hounds had reached the championship round, and it was the tenth time the Greyhounds have come through the winner's bracket and seventh time they've won in the first championship game. Moravian was also hosting the tournament as the top seed for the 11th time
• With the victory, Moravian will head to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 20th time in program history, and the Blue & Grey will find out their first round opponent and site for the NCAA Regional pod on Monday, May 13 during the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament Selection Show that will air at 11:00 a.m. on www.ncaa.com 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had nine hits with Elmore going 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, two runs and four RBIs
• Snyder was 2-for-3 with two runs and a triple while Andrews went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI
• Junior first baseman Lindsey Gawrys posted a 2-for-4 game while sophomore right fielder Sarah DeStefano had the other hit for the Hounds and Farrell crossed the plate once
• Elmore's homer was the Greyhounds' 34th home run of the season, setting a new program record for the team

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Thursday, May 16 vs. To Be Determined in 2024 NCAA Division III Regional, TBA