BOX SCORE (Game 1)
BOX SCORE (Game 2)
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (May 2, 2008) – Junior Kelly Moran (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning in game one and sophomore Kristen Cybularz (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) tossed a three-hit shutout in game two leading the DeSales University softball team into the Freedom Conference championship game with two wins on Friday at the Ralston Complex.
The Bulldogs will not know its opponent until after the first two morning games on Saturday. King's College will take on FDU-Florham in the first game at 9:00 am with the winner advancing to take on Delaware Valley College at 11:00 am. The winner of that game will meet the Bulldogs at 1:00 pm and will need to defeat DeSales twice to earn the Freedom Conference title. DSU needs just one win on Saturday to earn the title.
In game one on Friday the Devils took a 2-0 lead in the second inning after back-to-back doubles plated one run and a misplayed run-down plated the second run. DSU went scoreless in the first four innings before the bats woke up in the fifth as Moran led off the inning with a double to left-center. Freshman Kate Steiner (Walnutport, PA/Northampton) plated Moran with a single and advanced to second on the throw. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out but and junior Maddie Roxandich (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) hit a screaming line drive up the middle that seemed destined for centerfield but the Devil pitcher snagged it and tossed to second base to turn an inning ending double play.
After blanking FDU-Florham in the top of the sixth, DSU went quietly to start the bottom of the sixth inning as the first two batters were retired. Junior Amanda Kensecki (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) laced a two-out single to centerfield, bringing Moran to the plate. DeSales' all-time leader in home runs did not disappoint with a chance to give the Bulldogs the lead she won a 13-pitch battle that saw her foul off nine pitches and on the 13th pitch she sent a high fly ball that was tight to the foul line and had the entire stadium watching its flight as it landed on the top of the foul pole for a two-run home run giving DSU a 3-2 lead it would not relinquish.
The home run was Moran's eighth of the season, breaking the single-season record held by Valerie Valach and current assistant coach Jeanine Mara. Freshman Jen Lococo (Easton, PA/Freedom) sent down the Devils in order in the top of the seventh to earn her 11th win of the season as she allowed just four hits and two runs, while striking out four in the win. Moran finished with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI's in victory.
In game two, Cybularz took over on the mound and fired a three-hit complete-game shutout, walking just one and striking out one to improve to 10-5 on the year. DSU got all the runs it needed in the third inning when Roxandich led off with a bunt single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Kyra Monarek (Allentown, PA/Parkland) reached on a throwing error by the Aggie shortstop and Roxandich, who hustled over to third on the throw, scored when the ball got away from the first baseman and Monarek moved to second.
After sophomore Kerri Andrews (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) moved Monarek over to third with a sacrifice bunt, Kensecki drove her in with an RBI single up the middle making the score 2-0. Kensecki and Moran each had two hits in the game two win to lead the eight-hit attack.
The Bulldogs are now 26-12 overall and advance to their first-ever Freedom Conference Championship game on Saturday. The two wins on Saturday are the eighth straight for the Bulldogs and the 26 wins on the season set a new school-record, surpassing the previous mark of 25 wins during the 1995 season.
