The Moravian College softball team continued to compete on a national level in 2002, earning a national ranking of 20th during the regular season and participating in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament for the fifth straight year. The Greyhounds also won the Commonwealth Conference title for the third consecutive season and set a school record for any team sport with 34 victories.

Under the direction of head coach John Byrne, Moravian has posted record of 261-101 over the last nine seasons with five NCAA appearances, four Middle Atlantic Conference playoff berths, and five Commonwealth titles.

The 2002 Greyhounds had many different leaders on the field as the team had its highest batting average in years with a .351 average and the pitching staff had another outstanding year with a 1.17 earned-run average and 16 shutouts in 42 games.  In fact, Moravian allowed three or more runs in just 13 contests this year.

Leading the squad at the plate this spring was freshman shortstop Heather Bortz (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS), who hit .410 with 50 hits in her debut season. Bortz, who was named the Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year, a First Team Conference All-Star and a Second Team All-Region player, added 32 runs, 13 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and led the squad with 89 assists in the field.

Sophomore third baseman Janelle Brey (Allentown, PA/Dieruff HS) had a record breaking season while being named the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year, a First Team Conference All-Star, a First Team All-Region player and a Eastern College Athletic Conference South Second Team All-Star. Brey, who was also named to the NCAA Division III Regional All-Tournament Team and the MAC All-Academic Team, set the Moravian record for doubles with 15, home runs with ten, RBIs with 52 and total bases with 92 and she had a .366 average for the year with 45 hits, 32 runs and 13 walks.

Senior first baseman Sarah Leiby (Fleetwood, PA/Fleetwood HS) was a Commonwealth Conference First Team All-Star and a Second Team ECAC South All-Star and she hit .395 for the Greyhounds with 45 hits, 20 runs, 18 RBIs, seven doubles and a homer. Sophomore outfielder Jessica Esposito (Madison, NJ/Madison HS) was Second Team All-Star, a Third Team All-Region player and a ECAC South First Team All-Star while hitting .374 this season. Esposito had 43 hits, 30 runs, 28 RBIs, ten doubles and two homers for Moravian.

Sophomore outfielder Melissa Soroka (Newton, NJ/Pope John XXIII HS) earned Commonwealth Conference All-Star Second Team honors and she was named to the NCAA Division III Regional All-Tournament Team. Soroka hit .357 for the season with 46 hits, 32 runs, 17 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, 14 walks, six doubles and two homers.

Senior second baseman Laurie Rentschler (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh HS) was Second Team All-Star, a Third Team All-Region player and a Second Team ECAC South All-Star while hitting .330 this season. Rentschler, who was also on the MAC All-Academic Team, concluded her career as the school record holder in games played at 167 and she had 29 hits, 19 runs, 13 RBIs and a team leading ten sacrifices this spring.

Senior designated hitter Deb Noble (Cranford, NJ/Cranford HS) hit .333 in her final season with 29 hits, 16 RBIs, 14 runs and a home run. Senior outfielder Summer Miller (Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional HS) was a member of the MAC All-Academic Team and the Verizon Academic All-District squad while contributing 20 hits and ten RBIs in her final season. Senior catcher Stacy Matuczinski (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) had 23 hits, 15 runs and 12 RBIs in her last year with the Greyhounds. Junior infielder Kim Gehman (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights HS) had 11 hits and 11 RBIs this spring.

Freshman outfielder Krissy Cianfichi (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks East HS) contributed a .397 batting average with 23 hits, 23 runs and eight stolen bases while sophomore first baseman/designated hitter Jenn Hastings (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts HS) had a .383 average with 18 hits, nine RBIs and a home run. Freshman infielder Leah Holmes (Clarks Green, PA/Abington Heights HS) added 14 hits, ten runs and eight RBIs while sophomore infielder Megan Smith (Belvidere, NJ/ Phillipsburg HS) contributed six hits, eight runs and a homer. Freshman outfielder Stephanie Eddinger (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS) added 11 runs and four hits.

On the mound, senior Rachel Mowrey (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) anchored the Moravian pitching staff for a second straight year. Mowrey, who was named the Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Year, a First Team Conference All-Star, a Second Team All-Region player and a Second Team ECAC South All-Star, posted a 16-4 record with a 1.13 ERA in 136 2/3 innings of action. She allowed just 12 walks while striking out 51 batters.  Mowrey, who had seven shutouts this spring, completed her career with 50 victories.

Sophomore hurler Donna Weiner (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park HS) was a First Team Conference All-Star and she had a 12-4 record and a 1.66 ERA in 101 1/3 innings. Weiner gamed up just 16 walks while striking out 30 hitters and she had three shutouts during the year.

Freshman pitcher Ashley Hughes (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh HS) posted a 3-0 mark and a 0.00 ERA in 23 innings. Hughes, who also scored six runs as a pinch runner, added two shutouts and 16 strikeouts. Sophomore Jessica Naugle (Mohrsville, PA/Schuylkill Valley HS) also had a 3-0 record this spring and she had a 0.35 ERA in 20 innings of work with 15 strikeouts and just two walks.

The Greyhounds will have seven players to replace next season but return seven of the ten players that hit over .300 this spring and three of the four pitchers on the squad as the team will look for its fourth straight Commonwealth Conference Championship and a sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.