May 11, 2025
No. 18 Moravian Wins Third Straight & 12th Overall Landmark Conference Championship with 5-2 Victory over Catholic
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The top seed and No. 18 Moravian University softball team posted a 5-2 victory over second seed The Catholic University of America to claim the 2025 Landmark Conference Softball Championship at Blue & Grey Field Sunday afternoon, taking the best-of-three championship series, 2-0.
Moravian University
36-7
5
The Catholic University of America
31-12
2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The top seed and No. 18 Moravian University softball team posted a 5-2 victory over second seed The Catholic University of America to claim the 2025 Landmark Conference Softball Championship at Blue & Grey Field Sunday afternoon, taking the best-of-three championship series, 2-0.
How It Happened
- The Cardinals, batting as the home team as the teams used the NCAA Super Regional format in the best-of-three series to allow both teams to bat second at least once in the series, took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning
- The Greyhounds countered with five runs in the top of the sixth frame to take the lead. Senior shortstop Holly Walter put down a bunt single, diving into first base to beat the throw, to start the inning before senior first baseman Lindsey Gawrys reached on a fielder's choice as Walter was safe at second on an error on the dropped throw. Junior catcher Marcie Silberman hit an infield single in the hole at shortstop before sophomore Madelin Cooper came in to pinch run. Graduate student second baseman Ajala Elmore followed with a three-RBI single to right center field to score Walter, Gawrys and Cooper with an error allowing Elmore to head to second base. Senior left fielder Sage Snyder drew a walk while junior third baseman Sydney Andrews put down a sacrifice bunt to move up Elmore and Snyder. Sophomore designated player Kyra Holtje connected on a two-RBI single through the right side of the infield to chase Elmore and Snyder home with two insurance runs
Inside the Numbers
- Moravian had eight hits in the game with Silberman going 2-for-3 with a walk
- Elmore was 1-for-4 with three RBIs and a run while Holtje went 1-for-3 with two RBIs
- Walter, Gawrys and Snyder all had one hit and scored a run while senior right fielder Jessica Forder had a hit in her only plate appearance with Forder leaving with an injury after being thrown out at the plate in the third inning
- Cooper scored the final run for the Greyhounds
- Junior Sarah DeStefano improved to 20-2 in the circle as she became just the fourth pitcher in program history to reach 20 wins in a single season. DeStefano had three strikeouts in the game against the Cardinals
Conference Championship History
- Graduate student second baseman Ajala Elmore was selected as the 2025 Landmark Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, the second consecutive MVP award for Elmore in the conference championships. Elmore went 4-for-11 with four runs, five RBIs and two doubles at the plate and five putouts, ten assists and one double play at second base in the field during the tournament
- For Moravian, the Landmark Conference Championship is the 12th in 17 tournaments since the conference began in 2007-08, and it is the Greyhounds' 20th overall conference title since 2000. It is the Blue & Grey's third straight conference championship under the direction of Head Coach Josh Baltz, who took over the program prior to the 2023 season
- Sunday marked the 14th time in 17 Landmark Conference tournaments that the Hounds had reached the championship round, and it was the time winning a best-of-three series after the tournament had to be adjusted after losing Friday to weather postponements. Moravian was also hosting the tournament as the top seed for the 12th time
- With the victory, Moravian will head to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 21st time in program history, and the Blue & Grey will find out their first round opponent and site for the NCAA Regional pod on Monday, May 12 during the 2025 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament Selection Show that will air at 11:00 a.m. on www.ncaa.com
Up Next for the Greyhounds
- Thursday, May 15 vs. To Be Determined in 2025 NCAA Division III Regional, TBA
