Moravian Wins Battle Of Landmark Unbeatens

SCRANTON, Pa. - Moravian captured its 16th straight victory and moved into sole possession of first place in the Landmark Conference with an 11-0, six-inning victory over The University of Scranton behind a perfect game from freshman pitcher Elizabeth Python. In game two the Greyhounds swept their eighth consecutive doubleheader and clinched a postseason berth for the 14th straight year with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory.

In game one the perfect game was the first of Python's career, and the Greyhounds' third of the season. It was also Python's second no-hitter of the season and her seventh shutout of the year. The closest Python, who is now 13-2 on the year, would come to allowing a hit was in the first inning when freshman outfielder Amanda Paulus threw out Scranton's Erin Moreau at first base on a solid hit ball to right field.

Python had a 3-0 lead before she even went to the circle after Moravian scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Senior outfielder Megan Ritchey hit a one-out double and scored on a two-out RBI single by junior designated player Maria DeBonis. Senior second baseman Kelly Santry followed with a two-run home run to left field for her first homer of the season.

The Greyhounds extended their lead to 5-0 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Senior outfielder Erica Klepeisz led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Deanna Mangieri. Paulus then hit an RBI single to score Klepeisz. Paulus was caught stealing before a single by freshman Stephanie Falzarano singled. Ritchey then hit her second double of the game, driving in Falzarano.

Moravian scored a run in the top of the fifth inning for a 6-0 lead. Paly and Santry led off with back-to-back singles before a sacrifice bunt by Santry. Junior first baseman Sheri Bieniek followed with an RBI single to score Paly.

The Greyhounds would score five times in the top of the sixth inning to institute the NCAA eight-run rule. Paulus and Falzarano each had hits to lead off the inning; however, Paulus was thrown out at third. After a walk by Ritchey, Paly connected on an RBI double to score Falzarano. DeBonis then hit an RBI single to score Ritchey while Santry had an RBI single to score Paly. Sophomore Katie Flood came in to pinch run for DeBonis before a two-RBI double by Klepeisz finished off the scoring.

Moravian had a season high 18 hits in the victory. Ritchey was three-for-three with two doubles in the game while DeBonis went three-for-four. Paulus was a perfect two-for-two while Santry was two-for-three with three RBIs and her home run. Falzarano, Paly and Klepeisz each had two-for-four games with Klepeisz hitting two doubles.

After its win in game two Moravian now has a two-game lead in the conference standings and needs to win just two of its final four Landmark Conference games to clinch the top seed and host the 2008 Landmark Conference Tournament.

The Royals would take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Mary Beth Vogel singled to left-field and freshman Annie Zeleniak followed with a two-run home run to left-center field with two outs.

Moravian would rally for three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead. Senior second baseman Beth Paly led off the inning with a single to center field and advanced to second on an infield single by senior third baseman Kelly Santry.  Junior first baseman Sheri Bieniek then hit a one-out single to left-field that advanced Paly to third and Santry to second, but each runner moved up a base on an error allowing Paly to score.  Junior outfielder Erica Klepeisz then hit her third double of the doubleheader to left center field to score Santy and Bieniek and give the Greyhounds the lead.

Scranton would have a chance to take the lead back in the sixth inning but Paly snared a line drive over her shoulder at second base to end the inning. The Royals had nine hits in the game with Zeleniak going three-for-four and Vogel adding two hits. Moravian had just six hits in the contest with two by Paly.

Junior pitcher/designated player Maria DeBonis would earn her tenth win of the season in the circle, tossing five innings of scoreless relief with four hits and two walks allowed. DeBonis also struck out eight batters. Freshman Elizabeth Python started for the Greyhounds, allowing two runs on five hits and two strikeouts in the first two innings. Kasey Borbidge struck out three batters while allowing six hits and three runs, two of them earned runs.