Wednesday, May 14, 2003

SIX GREYHOUNDS NAMED MORAVIAN STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

BETHLEHEM, PA --- Juniors Janelle Brey (Allentown, PA/Dieruff HS), Jessica Esposito (Madison, NJ/Madison HS), Melissa Soroka (Newton, NJ/Pope John XXIII HS) and Donna Weiner (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park HS), sophomore Heather Bortz (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS) and freshman Meagan Hennessy (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township HS) of the softball team have been named the Moravian College Student-Athletes of the Week for their performances last week.

The Greyhounds finished as the runner-up at the 2003 NCAA Regional hosted by Ramapo College of New Jersey last weekend. Moravian posted a 3-2 record with victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy (10-3), Salisbury (MD) University, 3-2, and Ramapo (9-4) and a pair of losses to Salisbury (3-2 and 9-2) in the double-elimination tournament. Moravian’s runner-up finish was the program’s best-ever finish in six trips to the NCAA Regionals, and the Greyhounds posted a 32-10 record for the season.

Brey, a third baseman and one of five Greyhounds to be named to the All-Tournament Team at the regional, hit .438 in Moravian’s five games with seven hits in 16 at-bats. Brey added five runs scored, five RBIs, 14 total bases, two doubles, a triple and a home run. Brey also added six putouts, 12 assists and one error in 19 chances in the field.

Esposito, an outfielder and a member of the All-Tournament Team, also hit .438 during the tournament with seven hits in 16 at-bats. Esposito contributed 11 total bases, two doubles, a triple and an RBI while making four putouts.

Soroka, an outfielder and a member of the All-Tournament Team, hit .333 in the regional with five hits in 15 at-bats. Soroka also had four runs scored, two RBIs, two stolen bases and four putouts.

Weiner, a pitcher, posted a 2-0 record in the circle for the Greyhounds. Weiner had a 2.62 ERA with eight runs allowed, just six earned, with 15 hits, two walks and 14 strikeouts in 16 innings of action. Weiner also made two assists in the field.

Bortz, a shortstop and a member of the All-Tournament Team, led Moravian in hitting with a .529 average after collecting nine hits in 17 at-bats. Bortz contributed four runs scored, four RBIs, 13 total bases, a double and a home run, which was an inside-the-park grand slam versus Ramapo that rallied Moravian for the victory in the game. Bortz was also perfect in the field, making 14 putouts and six assists in 20 chances.

Hennessy, a pitcher and a member of the All-Tournament Team, tossed all three games Moravian played against Salisbury in the tournament. Hennessy had a 1-2 record, a 4.67 ERA, 13 runs allowed, 12 were earned, 24 hits, five walks and 16 strikeouts in 18 innings of action. Hennessy also had one putout and five assists.