Grantham, PA – The No. 1 Messiah College Falcons (39-3) used a huge fourth inning to claim a commanding 10-0 victory in just five innings over No. 2 Widener University (31-11). This is the Falcons' first MAC Commonwealth Championship since 2011 and fifth since 1999. They earned the 2011 Championship in similar fashion, shutting out Arcadia University 14-0.
 
Courtney Allen (22-0) was named the 2016 Tournament Most Valuable Player after picking up three wins throughout the tournament, holding her opponents to just four runs and 11 hits through 17 innings of work. She was also 6-for-8 at the plate with four RBI.
 
The Falcons pushed single runs across the plate in both the first and second innings before exploding for eight runs in the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the first, the Falcons displayed textbook softball strategy to score their opening run. In the leadoff spot, Carrie Fix was hit by a pitch to become the Falcons' first base runner. This was Fix's team leading 11th HBP of the season. In the next at-bat, Brooke Pompeo came through with a sacrifice bunt that moved Fix over to second. Courtney Allen followed with an RBI single up-the-middle to score Fix.
 
The Pride had two on and two out to start the second, but Allen came through with a big strikeout to get out of the jam.
 
Amanda Jones extended the Falcons' advantage in the bottom of the next inning with a leadoff single through the left side. On the first pitch of the next at-bat Jones stole second for her team leading 19th stolen base. She is 19-of-20 on the year and the only player on the team with 10-plus steals. Following the steal, Erin Cressman hit a double over the left fielder's head, scoring Jones from second for the 2-0 lead.
 
Allen continued to work out of pressure situations from the Pride. In the top of the third, she faced another two on, one out situation and managed to diffuse it. After a single and a one-out walk, Allen forced a groundout by the Pride's leading hitter, Ally Alkins, for the second out. The final out of the frame came when Allen knocked down a hard shot that came right back to her ankles and threw the runner out at first, preserving the 2-0 lead.
 
The Falcons broke the game open in the fourth when they hit through the line up and then some, scoring eight runs on six hits to take a commanding 10-0 lead. Notte had two singles and three RBI, while Amber Bingaman and Allen also knocked in RBI.

With the commanding 10-0 lead the Falcons needed just three outs to claim the championship.

Despite the daunting task of a potential comeback, the Pride's hope was still very much alive. After a flyout, Ally Horvath singled to become the Pride's first base runner of the inning. In the next at-bat, Lauren DelRomano hit the ball sharply to Amanda Jones at short, but Jones bobbled the ball and was unable to come up with a play. With two on and one out, the Pride were very much still in the game, but Courtney Allen had other plans. Allen buckled down and struck out Alkins then forced a groundout to third for the final out of game.

Throughout the tournament, the Falcons were sharp on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Overall the Falcons hit .437 (31-71) and outscored their opponents 23-4. They committed only one defensive error.

The Falcons will expectantly wait for Monday's NCAA Selection Show at 1:00 p.m. to find out what their future holds. Stay tuned to GoMessiah.com for continued updates regarding when and where the Falcons play next.