Moravian Softball Sweeps Elizabethtown

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. - The Greyhounds swept a non-conference doubleheader from former conference foe Elizabethtown College with a 6-0 victory in the second game following a 3-0 win in game one.

Moravian freshman pitcher Elizabeth Python tossed her second straight shutout in game two, allowing just two hits and striking out three batters to improve to 5-2 in the circle this season.

Moravian would give Python all of the offense she needed before Python even hit the circle as the Greyhounds scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Freshman outfielder Stephanie Falzarano led off the game with a double to left centerfield, and junior Erica Klepeisz followed with a single through the right side to put runners on the corners. Klepeisz would then steal second base and a throwing error would move her to third and allow Falzarano to score. Senior shortstop Beth Paly then hit an RBI double down the left field line to score Klepeisz.

The Greyhounds added a run in the top of the second inning for a 3-0 lead. Senior designated player Megan Ritchey started the inning with a single up the middle, and she moved to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, junior second baseman Katie Agnew hit an RBI double to right center to score Ritchey.

Moravian pushed another run across the plate in the top of the third inning to build a 4-0 lead. Paly led off the inning with a single to left centerfield, and she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior third baseman Kelly Santry. A single to right center by freshman outfielder Amanda Paulus put runners on the corners before an RBI single to center field by freshman first baseman Jennifer Schmitt.

The Greyhounds scored their final two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Agnew reached on an error with one out and scored on an RBI triple to centerfield by Klepeisz. Paly followed with an RBI single up the middle to push Klepeisz home. Moravian had 13 hits in the game and was led by Paly's three-for-four performance. Agnew and Klepeisz were each two-for-four in Moravian's third straight victory.

Lisa Malehorn started in the circle for Elizabethtown, allowing three runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings of action. Alex Lee tossed the final 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs, just one earned, on eight hits, and she struck out eight Greyhounds. The Blue Jays had just two hits in the game, a pair of singles in the fourth inning.

In game one the Greyhounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when freshman outfielder Amanda Paulus singled to right field with one out. Paulus would steal second before scoring on an RBI double to left field by junior outfielder Erica Kelpeisz.

The Greyhounds would add a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning. Freshman shortstop Stephanie Falzarano reached on an error to lead off the inning and then scored on an RBI triple to right field by Kelpeisz. After a ground out, Klepeisz would cross the plate on an RBI single through the left side by freshman first baseman Jennifer Schmitt. Moravian had eight hits in the game with Klepeisz going two-for-two and Paulus going two-for-three.

The Blue Jays had five hits in the game with two off of the bat of Kelsea Corrado. Elizabethtown had a chance to score at the end of the game but Klepeisz threw out the runner at the plate to end the game.

Moravian junior pitcher Maria DeBonis tossed the five-hitter and allowed just one walk while striking out 11 batters for her fourth victory of the season in the circle. The shutout was Debonis' third of the season. Alex Lee took the loss for Elizabethtown, allowing three runs, two of them earned, on eight hits while striking out four batters.