May 17, 2025
No. 18 Greyhounds Top Eastern to Win 2025 NCAA DIII Bethlehem (Pa.) Regional and Advance to Super Regionals
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The No. 18 Moravian University softball squad posted a 3-1 victory over Eastern (Pa.) University to win the 2025 NCAA Division III Bethlehem, Pa. Regional at Blue & Grey Field Saturday to advance to the NCAA Division III Super Regionals for the fourth time in program history and second time in three seasons.
Eastern University
31-11
1
Moravian University
39-7
3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | X | 3 | 6 | 2 |
Eastern University
31-11
1
Moravian University
39-7
3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | X | 3 | 6 | 2 |
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The No. 18 Moravian University softball squad posted a 3-1 victory over Eastern (Pa.) University to win the 2025 NCAA Division III Bethlehem, Pa. Regional at Blue & Grey Field Saturday to advance to the NCAA Division III Super Regionals for the fourth time in program history and second time in three seasons.
How It Happened
- The Greyhounds opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning with a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Senior first baseman Lindsey Gawrys hit a flare down the right field line and raced into second for a double with the Hounds' second hit of the afternoon. After a fly out by junior catcher Marcie Silberman moved Gawrys to third base, graduate student second baseman Ajala Elmore was hit by a pitch. Elmore stole second base to put two runners in scoring position for senior left fielder Sage Snyder, who ripped a two-RBI single into center field to send Gawrys and Elmore across the plate
- Moravian tacked on a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to stretch the advantage to 3-0. Sophomore center fielder Shayla Morgan hit a shallow fly ball to center field that fell in for a hit as the Eastern outfielder attempted a sliding catch on the ball. Senior shortstop Holly Walter followed with a bunt base hit with the throw attempt to get Walter sailing into right field. The error allowed Morgan to race all the way around the bases. Gawrys added a walk, but the Blue & Grey stranded two runners in scoring position
- The Eagles pushed a run home in the top of the sixth on a bases loaded walk before junior right fielder/pitcher Sarah DeStefano came in for her first relief appearance of the season to shut the door and make Eastern leave the bases loaded
- The Hounds left a pair of runners in the bottom of the sixth
- Eastern got a runner on in the top of the seventh on an error by the Greyhounds; however, Moravian turned a line drive back to DeStefano into a double play to clinch the victory and end the contest
- DeStefano was selected as the 2025 NCAA Division III Bethlehem (Pa.) Regional Most Outstanding Player, the second time in three seasons that DeStefano has been the MOP in a regional championship by the Greyhounds, and she was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Snyder, Silberman and sophomore designated player/pitcher Kyra Holtje
Inside the Numbers
- Moravian collected six hits in the game with Snyder going 2-for-3 with two RBIs
- Gawrys was 1-for-2 with a double and a run, and she added 12 putouts to break the single season school record, now with 383 putouts this spring, while Morgan also went 1-for-2 with a run
- Walter contributed a hit and an RBI while junior third baseman Sydney Andrews had a hit and Elmore scored once
- Holtje started in the circle, and she allowed an unearned run on three hits and a walk to go with one strikeout in 5.2 innings as Holtje improved to 12-2 in the circle this season
- DeStefano had one strikeout in 1.1 innings as she registered her first collegiate save
- The Regional title for the Greyhounds was the seventh for the program in ten trips to the regional championship round of play as the squad joins the 2004, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2018 and 2023 teams. The 2004, 2007 and 2010 teams earned berths in the Division III Championships Series with their regional championships while the 2015, 2018, 2023 and 2025 squads earned berths in the Super Regionals with a change in format by the NCAA
- Third-year Head Coach Josh Baltz is 10-6 in NCAA Tournament action as the Greyhound program improved to 56-45 in 21 NCAA Tournament berths. Baltz has Moravian heading to the Super Regionals for the second time in his three seasons
- The Hounds improved to 25-3 this season while playing at Blue & Grey Field
Up Next for the Greyhounds
- Thursday, May 22 vs. No. 24 Randolph-Macon (Va.) College in 2025 NCAA Division III Bethlehem (Pa.) Super Regional, 2:00 p.m.
- Friday, May 23 vs. No. 24 Randolph-Macon (Va.) College in 2025 NCAA Division III Bethlehem (Pa.) Super Regional, 1:00 p.m.
