Moravian Blanks Catholic To Win Softball Title

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Junior pitcher Maria DeBonis tossed her third shutout of the tournament to lead Moravian to the inaugural Landmark Conference title with a 7-0 win over third seeded The Catholic University of America in the 2008 Landmark Conference Tournament at Moravian’s Blue & Grey Field Saturday afternoon.

The top seeded Greyhounds, who have won eight consecutive games and 27 of their last 28 contests, improve to 33-6 on the season and will now wait until Sunday night to find out if the program has earned its 11th straight berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Moravian is vying for one of five Pool B independent bids.

Moravian would jump out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Senior outfielder Megan Ritchey singled to lead off the inning. Freshman shortstop Stephanie Falzarano followed with a sacrifice bunt but an error allowed Ritchey to move to third and Falzarano to be safe. Another Catholic throwing error on the play let Ritchey come home while Falzarano moved to second base.

The Greyhounds extended their lead to 4-0 with three runs in the second inning. Junior first baseman Sheri Bieniek singled up the middle to lead off and moved to second on an error on a ball hit by junior outfielder Erica Klepeisz. Freshman third baseman Maura Agnew drew a walk to load the bases. Junior catcher Deanna Mangieri followed with an RBI ground out to score Bieniek. Freshman outfielder Amanda Paulus then hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Klepeisz. Agnew would score the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Moravian scored again in the bottom of the third inning for a 5-0 lead. Senior second baseman Beth Paly singled to center field to lead off the stanza and eventually scored on a two-out RBI single by Klepeisz.

The Greyhounds added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to build a 7-0 lead. Mangieri singled with one out and senior pinch hitter Kelly Santry hit a single to put two runners on. Paulus re-entered the game to run for Santry, who was sitting out the tournament with an injury but got an at-bat in her final home game. Ritchey followed with a two-RBI double to right field, scoring Mangieri and Paulus.

Moravian had nine hits in the game with Ritchey going a perfect three-for-three and Paly adding two hits. The Cardinals had just three hits.

DeBonis, who is now 19-3 on the season, allowed three hits and a walk while striking out eight batters. DeBonis threw three shutouts in the tournament with 32 strikeouts in 19 innings of action.

Sophomore Stephanie Clemente started in the circle for Catholic, allowing seven runs, only four earned, on eight hits and a walk with one strikeout in 3 1/3 innings. Sophomore Stacie Goddard gave up a hit and three walks in 2 2/3 innings of action.