BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In a rematch of last season's Commonwealth Conference Championship game, the Moravian College Greyhounds swept the Lebanon Valley College softball team by scores of 7-3 and 9-1. The first place Greyhounds improved to 28-6 and 9-1 in the Commonwealth, while the Valley moved to .500 (14-14) and 0-8 in the league.
Ranked 20th by the
USA Today/NFCA Division III Poll, Moravian jumped out to a 5-1 lead after the Valley tied the game at one on a RBI single by freshman
Kelly McManus (Langehorne, Pa./Neshaminy) in the fourth. The Greyhounds sent eight batters to the plate and had the frame capped by a grand slam by sophomore Janelle Brey. Brey finished with the one hit and four RBI.
Senior hurler
Sam Rill (Lebanon, Pa./Annville-Cleona) allowed just two earned runs and struck out one batter in six innings. Senior Rachel Mowrey went the distance and scattered 13 hits while striking out three batters.
Sophomore
Kendra McQuillis (New London, Pa./Avon Grove) went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. The DH for the day doubled home
Sam Rill in the seventh inning to give the Valley its third run.
In the nightcap, freshman
Jess Cooney (Rockledge, Pa./Abington) was pelted for nine hits, eight runs (five earned) and three walks as Moravian "eight-runned" the Valley, 9-1. Sophomore Donna Weiner allowed just six hits and one unearned run. Moravian scored in all innings but the fifth to hold off the Valley.
Senior
Jamie Bailey (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) batted 3-for-3 and scored the lone run for the Valley in the top of the first. Junior
Krissy Wardrop (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown) singled Bailey home.
The Valley will look for its first Commonwealth win this Tuesday, April 23, when the team travels to Juniata College for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.
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