Game 1 Box Score   Game 2 Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lebanon Valley lost a pair of tough games at Moravian College in a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Blue & Grey Field.

Meagan Hennessy tossed a two-hit shutout in Game One for Moravian, ranked No. 1 in the nation. Hennessy threw the final two innings of the nightcap to pick up the save as Moravian held off a late LVC rally for a 6-5 win.

The Greyhounds (29-1, 12-0 CC), who have now 29 games in a row since losing their season opener, clinched the top seed in the upcoming Commonwealth Conference playoffs with their Game One victory.

In the first game, Moravian gave Hennessy (15-0) all the offense she would need with one run on three hits in the bottom of the first. Hennessy allowed just six baserunners for the game on two hits, two errors, one walk and one hit batsman. She struck out three and prevented LVC from reaching third base the entire game.

Freshman Jenn Roberts (East Petersburg, Pa./Hempfield) started in the circle and was charged with the loss for Lebanon Valley (10-15, 6-6 CC). In 3 2/3 innings, Roberts (4-7) was touched for two runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks. She struck out two.

The Greyhounds added a run off Roberts in the third and another off freshman Kelly O'Toole (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) in the fifth.

In the second game, Moravian scored all six of its runs over the first three innings. The Greyhounds plated one run in each of the first two innings against LVC starter Alisa Albers (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) (1-5), then broke out with a four-run third against Albers and reliever Jess Cooney (Rockledge, Pa./Abington).

The Lebanon Valley defense would tighten up, however, as junior Michelle Norman (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) and Roberts would hold Moravian to just one hit and no runs the rest of the way. Norman, making only her second appearance of the season, fired one scoreless inning while Roberts came back to blank the 'Hounds over the final two frames.

After reaching base just once over the first three innings, the LVC bats began to heat up in the fourth. The Flying Dutchmen loaded the bases with no outs as senior Kristin Crouse (Columbia, Pa./Columbia) led off with a bunt single and freshmen Amy Batz (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) and Jenn Parks (Monroeville, N.J./Woodstown) followed with back-to-back singles. Junior Melissa Ulrich (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) then ripped a two-run single to make it a 6-2 game, but Moravian starter Donna Weiner escaped further damage by retiring the final three batters of the inning and leaving runners on first and second.

The Dutchmen continued to rally with a three-run, six-hit fifth. Roberts pinch-hit for Norman and doubled to lead off the inning. Freshman Audrey Benner (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) singled, and Crouse ripped a single into left to score Roberts. Batz followed up with a double to left center, scoring Benner to make it a 6-4 game. Crouse attempted to score on the play but was thrown out at the plate on a relay throw from the shortstop.

Weiner (12-1) struck out a batter to get two outs in the inning, but LVC wasn't finished yet. Ulrich came through with a single to left center, driving in Batz to bring the Valley to within a run. Junior Gina Battistelli (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) then singled, prompting Moravian to replace Weiner with freshman Becky Thomas. Making just her third appearance of the season, Thomas walked junior Chris Jessen (Newfield, N.J./Woodstown) to load the bases, but she induced the next batter into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Hennessy was called on out of the bullpen for the final two innings, and she blanked the Dutchmen the rest of the way to pick up her third save of the season.

Crouse finished 3-for-4 for the Valley while Batz, Ulrich and Battistelli popped two hits apiece. Ulrich drove in three runs and Batz scored a pair.

Lebanon Valley returns to action on Thursday when it visits Wilkes University in a MAC non-conference doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m. The Dutchmen conclude their Commonwealth Conference regular season schedule when they host Albright College in another twinbill at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

[Photo - Senior Kristin Crouse, who was 3-for-4 in LVC's 6-5 loss to Moravian on Tuesday]

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