Moravian defeats Salisbury, 6-5 (11 innings)

The Moravian College Greyhounds pulled off their second come-from-behind victory in as many days, beating Salisbury University 6-5, in 11 innings, on Saturday evening in the NCAA Division III softball championship in Salem , VA. The Greyhounds improve to 39-4 on the season, while the Sea Gulls fall to 39-7 overall. Moravian advances to Sunday’s 5:00pm contest, while Salisbury will take on Wheaton (MA) College at 12:00pm on Sunday in an elimination contest.

Janelle Brey led off the bottom of the 11^th with a walk. She moved to second on a wild pitch. In an attempt to get Brey in scoring position, Melissa Soroka put down a sacrifice bunt down the firstbase line. Salisbury ’s firstbaseman fielded the ball, but threw low to first. The ball got past the SU secondbaseman, who was covering first, and ended up just shy of the outfield grass. Brey, who was going to third on the bunt, was able to round third and head home for the winning run.

There was little hesitation in Salisbury ’s offensive attack, as the Sea Gulls jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after the first half of an inning. Nichol Fuqua led off the inning with a double off of the leftfield fence. Serena Fleming followed with a single to short right, but Fuqua was unable to move to third on the play. The next batter reached on a fielder’s choice, forcing Fuqua at third. Erin Ruest then singled to right, but Fleming was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second. The Sea Gulls were finally able to score in the inning on a single by Leslie White to center. Suzy Gill then singled over the pitcher’s head to score the second run of the inning.

The Sea Gulls added to their lead in the third. With two outs, Erin Ruest singled to right center and a batter later came all the way home on a Leslie White double that just stayed in the park, hitting off the top of the leftfield fence.

After the Sea Gulls scored their fourth run of the game, that in the top of the fourth, the Greyhounds shot back with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Designated player Richelle McWilliams doubled to centerfield to get the rally started. Danielle Carrione singled to second base and McWilliams went to third. The next batter, Lauren Homa, hit a shot back up the middle to score pinch-runner LeeAnna Roberts from third. Jessica Espisito then brought the Greyhounds to within two runs with another double, scoring Carrione from second.

Salisbury tacked on anther run in the top of the fifth inning to make the score 5-2 after five complete. Erin Ruest doubled to lead off the inning and four batters later pinch-runner Megan Ellzy scored from third on a throwing error on the MC thirdbaseman.

As they did on Friday, the Greyhounds used some late inning heroics to tie the ball game. With two outs Lauren Homa got a rally started with a single to leftfield. The next two batters drew walks from Salisbury starter Lacey Lister to load the bases. Heather Bortz then ripped a single to right field, but the ball slipped through the SU fielder’s leg for an error. The runners on second and third were head home the whole way, but Moravian’s runner at first, pinch-runner Jenn Hastings, was able to come all the way home on the error. Just after Hastings scored the tying run, Bortz was thrown out trying to stretch the SU miscue into a two-base error, getting thrown out at third.