No-Hitter Sparks Moravian To Sweep

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Moravian earned a 9-0, five-inning victory over Baptist Bible College in the first game of the Greyhounds first home doubleheader of the 2008 season at Blue & Grey Field. Junior pitcher Maria DeBonis tossed her second career no-hitter in the game for Moravian, striking out nine batters and allowing one walk. The Greyhounds followed with an 8-0 win in game two to earn the sweep.

In game one the Greyhounds would give DeBonis all of the offensive support she would need with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Junior outfielder Erica Klepeisz singled with one out, stole second base and moved to third on a wild pitch before crossing the plate on an RBI single by junior first baseman Sheri Bieniek.

Moravian added two runs in the bottom of the second inning when freshman third baseman Maura Agnew doubled with two outs and freshman outfielder Amanda Paulus followed with her first collegiate home run, a shot into the wind to dead centerfield. The Greyhounds would make their lead 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning when DeBonis led off the inning with a triple and scored on an RBI triple by Paulus with two outs.

Moravian would institute the NCAA eight-run rule in the bottom of the fifth inning with five runs for the 9-0 victory. Klepeisz was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and senior shortstop Beth Paly followed with an RBI double to left centerfield scoring Klepeisz. Sophomore first baseman Danielle Massa singled to move Paly to third base. Freshman Jennifer Schmitt then pinch hit for DeBonis and reached on an error that allowed Massa and Paly to score. Two batters later, Agnew connected on her second homer of the season, a shot to left centerfield to score Schmitt end the game.

The Greyhounds had ten hits in the game with Agnew, Paly and Paulus each collecting two hits. Paulus also drove in three runs while Agnew had two RBIs and two runs scored. Liz Tomasetti took the loss for Baptist Bible, allowing the nine runs; only six were earned, on ten hits and two strikeouts. The defenders only base runner of the game was a walk by Jessica Kuhnle in the second inning.

In game two Moravian would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman outfielder/shortstop Stephanie Falzarano led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. A ground out by senior outfielder Erica Klepeisz moved Falzarano to third where she scored on an RBI single by senior shortstop Beth Paly.

Moravian would score five times in the bottom of the second inning, all with two outs, to take a 6-0 lead. Freshman outfielder Megan Boyle reached on an error with two outs and Falzarano followed with a walk. Klepeisz hit an RBI single up the middle to score Boyle, and Paly followed with an RBI single through the right side to score Falzarano. On the play, Baptist Bible attempted to throw Paly out at second which allowed Klepeisz to score as well. Paly moved to third on a passed ball and eventually scored on an RBI single by senior second baseman Kelly Santry. Santry would score the final run of the inning when senior catcher Deanna Mangieri reached on an error in the Defender outfield.

The Greyhounds increased the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Boyle singled to left field with two outs and scored on an RBI double by Falzarano. Moravian's final run scored in the bottom of the fourth inning when junior second baseman Katie Agnew reached on an error and crossed the plate on an RBI double by senior designated player Megan Ritchey.

Moravian had eight hits in the game with Falzarano and Paly each going two-for-two. Baptist Bible had three hits with Heather Stamper getting the Defenders first hit of the doubleheader in the third inning.

Greyhound freshman pitcher Elizabeth Python improved to 2-2 in the circle this season, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out five batters. Liz Tomasetti was in the circle for Baptist Bible, allowing eight runs, just two of them earned, on eight hits and a walk while striking out two Greyhounds.