Top 10 Exciting Games of 2014-15 - #3 Softball's 6-5, 8-inning Walkoff Win at DePauw
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College continues its look back at its 2014-15 athletic campaign with the No. 3 highlight in the Top 10 Exciting Games – the softball squad’s 6-5, eight-inning walkoff win on a two-RBI double by sophomore second baseman Madison Newhouser over host DePauw (Ind.) University in the opening game of an NCAA Division III Super Regional on May 15.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College continues its look back at its 2014-15 athletic campaign with the No. 3 highlight in the Top 10 Exciting Games – the softball squad's 6-5, eight-inning walkoff win on a two-RBI double by sophomore second baseman Madison Newhouser over host DePauw (Ind.) University in the opening game of an NCAA Division III Super Regional on May 15.
The Hounds, which making their second straight and third overall appearance in the Top 10 Countdown, moved within a win of the NCAA Division III Championship round with the victory, the squad's 11th one-run win of the season and the fifth in extra innings. Head Coach John Byrne '82 led Moravian to a 38-8 mark this past spring as he earned his 700th career victory. The Blue & Grey, who were 11-3 in one-run games and 6-1 in extra inning games in 2015, captured the Landmark Conference championship and was ranked No. 14 in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll.
"It was a good way for us to start out our first trip to the Super Regional," stated Byrne. "We shouldn't have needed extra innings that day since we left so many runners on base but it showed a resilience that this team displayed all season. We had different players step up throughout the year and Madison delivered the big hit against DePauw. Unfortunately, we weren't able to keep the momentum going the next day."
Moravian was the home team in the game despite playing at DePauw since the Greyhounds were he higher seeded team. Freshman pitcher Josie Novak allowed a hit in the top of the first but nothing more.
The Blue & Grey would threaten to score in the bottom of the first with a single by junior right fielder Mary Schlosbon, senior center fielder Dior George being hit by a pitch and sophomore left fielder Julie Siragusa reaching on an error to load the bases; however, the Hounds were unable to get a run home, a theme that played out throughout the sunny Friday afternoon as Moravian left 13 runners on base in the game.
The Greyhounds had another runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second before the Hounds finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning. Schlosbon led off with a single and moved to third when George reached on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt to put runners on the corner. George eventually stole second base before Newhouser ripped a two-RBI single to center field as Schlosbon and George scored to give Moravian a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, senior first baseman Jenn Dalickas and Schlosbon both hit two-out singles before the inning ended and in the fifth inning, senior designated player Lizzie Mack and junior pinch hitter Lindsay Sullivan were both hit by a pitch before being stranded on the base paths.
The top of the sixth saw DePauw take advantage of two Moravian errors while collecting five hits in the inning. The Tigers plated four unearned runs to take a 4-2 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, freshman catcher Janae Matos walked and Schlosbon was hit by a pitch but once again, the Greyhounds left runners on base.
After surviving two more errors in the top of the seventh without a run scoring, the Hounds headed to the plate for their last ups still trailing by two runs. Newhouser drew a walk with one out and sophomore shortstop Lizzie Deutsch followed with a single through the right side. After the second out of the inning, Matos fouled off three pitches before driving the seventh pitch of her at-bat into the gap in right center field to score Newhouser, and Deutsch raced around from first and beat the throw home to tie the game at 4-4. Dalickas was intentionally walked before the inning ended.
DePauw would get a leadoff home run in the top of the eighth inning to move back in front before Novak retired the next three batters.
George led off bottom of the eight for Moravian with an infield single to third base. Siragusa drew a walk after starting in an 0-2 hole before a pitching change. Mack then worked a walk on a nine-pitch at-bat that also started out with an 0-2 count to load the bases. Up next, Newhouser drilled an 0-1 pitch for a two-RBI double to left field and the victory for the Greyhounds.
"It was a back and forth game and Josie was pitching great for us," commented Newhouser. "We all wanted to win it for the seniors especially being all the way out there in Indiana and the season being on the line and all. Janae hit a game-tying double in the bottom of the 7th to tie it so it really was an overall team win and the feeling after winning and being there was unreal."
The Hounds saw leads slip away in each of the two games the next day to end the season with the first contest in Indiana being played at the same time as Moravian's graduation ceremony back in Bethlehem that Dalickas, Geroge and Mack missed. The school held a separate ceremony for the trio on May 18 when they returned home.
You can check out the original game day story at http://moraviansports.com/sports/sball/2014-15/releases/20150515nj83n2.
Number two on our Top 10 Exciting Games will be announced on Friday, July 17.
