Catholic Drops #23 Moravian in Opening Game of Championship Round in Landmark Conference Tournament
The third seeded Catholic University of America softball team rallied from a 1-0 deficit to post a 4-1 win over top seed and host #23 Moravian College in the opening game of the championship round of the 2011 Landmark Conference Tournament at Blue & Grey Field to force the if necessary game.
The third seeded Catholic University of America softball team rallied from a 1-0 deficit to post a 4-1 win over top seed and host #23 Moravian College in the opening game of the championship round of the 2011 Landmark Conference Tournament at Blue & Grey Field to force the if necessary game.
Catholic had a chance to score in the top first inning when sophomore third baseman Taylor Stockinger led off the game with a double to the left field corner but she would stranded at second.
Moravian would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first. Freshman outfielder Miranda Sergas and freshman designated player Taylor Mihalik hit back-to-back bunt singles with an out. After a passed ball moved the runners up, Sergas scored on a wild pitch on a walk by sophomore third baseman Shannen Mohr.
The Greyhounds would load the bases in the bottom the second inning with one out but were unable to score.
The Cardinals would score twice in the top of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Junior
second baseman Samantha Daubman singled with one out, and Stockinger walked. After a passed ball, sophomore outfielder Mel Galella hit a two-RBI single to move Catholic in front.
Moravian would get a runner to second base in the bottom of the third inning on a walk by Mohr and a single from freshman catcher Cassie Ernst, but the Greyhounds were unable to score.
Catholic would add a pair of runs in the the top of the fifth inning for a 4-1 lead. Stockinger drew a walk to start the inning and Galella followed with a single. After a pitching change for the Greyhounds that brought in sophomore Alyssa Fegely, a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Junior shortstop Megan Rizzi. Junior outfielder Tracey Scanlon hit a two-RBI double off the left field fence to score Stockinger and Galella but Rizzi was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Mohr doubled down the left field line with an out for the Greyhounds in the bottom half of the fifth inning, but Moravian was unable to score in the inning.
Moravian had a 7-5 edge in with Sergas going two-for-four with a run. Senior outfielder Maura Agnew, pictured at left, was two-for-three for the Greyhounds while Galella led Catholic at the plate with a two-for-four performance to go with two RBIs.
Freshman pitcher Kristen Apicella earned the win for the Cardinals, allowing four hits and two walks to go with one strikeout in 5 2/3 innings of action. Freshman Erin McMakin started for Catholic but left after 1 1/3 innings after being hit by a line drive. She allowed an unearned run on three hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Junior Jenna Carmon took the loss in the circle for Moravian, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks to go with four strikeouts in four-plus innings of action. Fegely tossed the final three innings with a hit, a walk and a strikeout.
