Wilkes Softball Drops Landmark Tournament Contest with Top-Seeded Moravian University
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The fifth-seeded Wilkes University softball team continued its quest through the Landmark Conference Tournament Friday afternoon, falling to the top-seeded host Moravian University 3-1 at Blue and Grey Field.
The Colonels opened the game strong with two hits from
Allyson Stafursky (Eynon, PA/Valley View) and
Samantha Petersen (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley), with the latter putting
Maddy Maloney (Scranton, PA/Lackawanna College) in scoring position after reaching on a fielder's choice.
Unfortunately, the Colonels were unable to score, and Marcie Silberman put the Greyhounds ahead in the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run to right.
Lauren DeMarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) was then able to get out of a jam with back-to-back strikeouts with the bases loaded to limit the damage to just one run.
In the fourth, Moravian doubled the lead with an RBI double that scored a runner on second and added a third with a triple in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 3-0.
Wilkes finally got on the board in the top of the seventh, as
Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) doubled down the right field line to put a runner on base.
Talia Piragas (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge) then brought home a pinch-running
Taylor Ferrari (Gordon, PA/North Schuylkill) in the next-at bat to give the Colonels life.
Julia Kapitula (Mount Olive, NJ/Mount Olive) followed by reaching on an error to put runners on first and second. Alas the Greyhound defense held firm, and Wilkes failed to add any more runs falling 3-1.
DeMarco (8-8) was given the loss in the circle for Wilkes, allowing all three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts through five innings. Dougher led the team at the plate as the lone Colonel with multiple hits, while Piragas had the team's lone RBI.
Sarah DeStefano (14-5) pitched a complete game for the Greyhounds, allowing five Colonel hits and one earned run striking out five batters. At the plate, Silberman led the team with three hits in as many at-bats with one RBI.
Wilkes now moves to Saturday, where they will play No. 3 Drew University in an elimination game at 11:00 a.m.
