XML Box Score York, PA – Needing two victories to claim their seventh Conference Championship the Messiah Falcons dropped their first game on Sunday afternoon by an 8-6 final and were eliminated by the Widener Pride. The Pride went 3-0 in the tournament to claim their third MAC Commonwealth Title.
Both starters had quick first innings to hang the first two zeros on the board. Widener's Kyle McKelvy needed just eight pitches to turn Messiah away in order while Messiah's
Brandon Shirk used six pitches to get a pair of groundouts and a fly out to end the frame.
In the second, Messiah put two runners on with one away. After a strikeout the Falcons loaded the bases with another walk.
Andrew Eyster stepped to the plate and put down a bunt that the pitcher fielded and threw to first. His throw pulled the first baseman off the bag and Messiah was on the board 1-0.
Ben Sollenberger then battled his way to a 2-2 count and sent a ball back up the middle to bring home two more runs. Sollenberger fouled off three pitches before knocking the key two-out single.
With Messiah leading 3-0 the Pride got a run back using a pair of one-out walks and a single through the right side to cut the lead to 3-1.
Walks hurt the Falcons in the bottom of the third. Messiah issued four free passes in the frame and Widener knocked some key hits to drive home five runs and take a 6-3 lead. Shirk started the inning but lost control, loading the bases on walks and was relieved by
Matt Wright.
Messiah rallied in the fourth by putting runners on the corners with one away after
Kyle Wickenheiser doubled and
Austin Pletcher singled. Messiah stranded Wickenheiser and Pletcher when a strikeout and a fly out ended the inning.
Quinton Kuntz came out to pitch the fourth for Messiah and looked like he was going to get out of the frame unscathed, but the Pride stole second and a throwing error allowed the runner from third to score on the play. The unearned run gave the Pride a 7-3 lead.
Messiah rallied in the fifth with a pair of doubles by
Adam Janney and
Colin Fry to plate a run.
Josh Good then followed with a single through the right side to chase Fry home and cut the Widener lead to 7-5.
Kuntz worked around a couple of two-out base runners in the fifth to keep it a two-run game.
Widener ace Josh Lafferty came into pitch to start the sixth and threw a clean inning before allowing a single run in the seventh. Messiah got their run in the seventh when
Joseph Saufley got to second on a fielding error and later came in on a sacrifice fly by
Josh Good.
The Pride got that run right back in the seventh with a two-out single through the right side. The run made it 8-6 heading to the eighth.
Messiah was unable to get anything going in the eighth or ninth and the Pride took the title by an 8-6 final.
