Conner Fires Three-Hit Shutout in Return to Pitcher’s Circle
CLERMONT, Fla. – Sophomore starting pitcher Carsin Conner admitted there were some nerves in her return to the mound after missing her freshman year with an injury, but it didn’t take the hurler long to find her form.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
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7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | X | 13 | 14 | 0 |
CLERMONT, Fla. – Sophomore starting pitcher Carsin Conner admitted there were some nerves in her return to the mound after missing her freshman year with an injury, but it didn't take the hurler long to find her form.
Conner tossed a three-hit shutout in her first game action in a year, striking out five as the Greyhounds defeated Houghton (N.Y.) College, 13-0, in five innings on Wednesday afternoon in the Spring Games at the National Training Center in Florida.
The Greyhounds (4-0) immediately supported their starting pitcher, posting seven runs in the home half of the first inning. From there, Conner took care of business.
"I felt calm once I knew I had my teammates behind me," Conner said. "They always have my back. I was pretty anxious and my heart was racing because it's been so long. I think I did alright and I've felt better physically than I've felt in a long time. I keep getting stronger."
Moravian boasted 13 different players with a hit and nine with an RBI in Wednesday's victory. The Greyhounds scored in each of their four frames and totaled 14 hits to remain perfect on their Spring Break trip to the Sunshine State.
Conner worked out of a jam in both the first and second innings, holding Houghton scoreless despite runners reaching third base in both frames. The sophomore rung up her first of five Houghton batters with a runner on third and one out, then coaxed a groundout to shortstop.
Moravian's bats exploded in the home half of the first as the Greyhounds batted around in their first licks for the second straight game. Junior center fielder Dior George went 2-for-2 in the inning with a triple, a run scored and an RBI. Senior catcher Cassie Ernst ripped an RBI double, while freshman shortstop Lily Shontz and senior second baseman Eavan Matz each added RBI singles.
George capped the inning with her RBI triple to plate Matz for the 7-0 lead.
"We're all very excited and enthused about how this season can turn out," Conner said. "As long as we keep up the intensity and have each other's back, we'll be solid. I'll take it one game at a time, just like my team does. It was nice to have a calm game for my first game back. We kept the intensity up but it was nice to have a smooth game."
Senior Taylor Mihalik smacked an RBI double in the second to give Moravian a 9-0 lead. Senior infielder Leann Ventriglia led off the bottom of the third with a hard-hit double down the left field line, and came around to score on a Houghton wild pitch.
Freshman Victoria Conner picked up her first career RBI with a single to right-center and classmates Julie Siragusa and Alexis Wiggley each notched their second career RBIs in the innings to set the final score at 13-0.
Conner picked up three strikeouts over her final two innings to clinch a victory in her return to action.
Moravian looks to carry the momentum from a 4-0 start to the season with a doubleheader scheduled at the NTC on Thursday. The Greyhounds face Neumann University at 1 p.m. and will take on Aurora (Ill.) University immediately after.
To follow live stats for the Greyhounds' remaining four games at the Spring Games, click here.
