BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Wilkes University softball team forced extra innings with a seventh-inning rally but fell to top-seeded Moravian University in the Landmark Conference Tournament 5-6 in extra innings at Blue & Grey Field Saturday afternoon.

Wilkes ends the season with a 17-15 overall record, as Moravian improves to 34-7 and moves on to the finals of the tournament.

The Colonels stunned the hosts early, as Sarah DeStefano walked Allyson Stafursky (Eynon, PA/Valley View) with the bases loaded in the top of the second. Wilkes left the bases loaded but took a crucial 1-0 lead.

Wilkes' defense held Moravian scoreless through five innings, including a line-drive grab to end the third inning by Maddy Maloney (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) to save a ball from reaching the outfield and tying the game.

Moravian's bats finally came alive in the fifth inning, and the Greyhounds took the lead on a four-run rally with two outs.

The Colonels didn't go down without a fight as Maloney and Hannah Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) got on base with singles, with the latter advancing on the throw to put runners on second and third. A double by Mia Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) that was dropped off the glove of Moravian's Jessica Forder cleared the bases and brought Wilkes within a run. Talia Piragas (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge) then drove home Butka with a single to left field to tie the game at four.

After the Wilkes defense sat Moravian down in order to end regulation, the Greyhounds walked it off in the bottom of the eighth inning with a single down the left field line by Forder to win 5-4.

Lauren DeMarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) (9-4) was given the loss, pitching a complete game allowing five earned runs with three strikeouts, holding the Greyhounds scoreless for the first four innings of the game. At the plate, Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) led the Colonels going 3-for-4, reaching on all four plate appearances thanks to a Greyhound error. Butka and Maloney also had multiple-hit days.

DeStefano (19-2) picked up the win, pitching a complete game allowing four earned runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts. Forder, Marcie Silberman, and Sydney Andrews led Moravian with two hits each, while Ajala Elmore led the team with two RBIs.