Reading, PA — The Messiah College baseball team picked an inopportune time to conclude what was a nine-game winning streak, falling at Albright College by a 3-1 score in both teams' MAC Commonwealth opener Friday afternoon.
After averaging 13 hits and 10.7 runs per game in its winning streak, Messiah (13-7, 0-1) was held to just six hits and a single score in Friday's nine-inning affair, as a pitcher's duel ensued. Senior Dan Kern (4-2) suffered the loss on the mound for the Falcons despite allowing just eight hits in eight innings of work, striking out four. Albright's Casey Lawrence (2-1) collected the pitching win, matching Kern in workload while putting up similar numbers: Five hits allowed, one walk and four strikeouts.
“First, you have to tip your cap to their pitcher, Casey Lawrence,” said Bryan Engle, Messiah head coach. “I thought he threw a really nice ballgame and was a big reason (for the result). The good thing was that Danny Kern matched him for the most part. We just failed to get the big hit or in some cases, they made a big defensive play to keep us from doing that.”
Lawrence and Kern exchanged scoreless innings through the initial six full innings of play Friday, while Messiah left three runners on base during that time. A deep shot to right field from senior Craig Mease may have driven home sophomore Sheldon Witmer in the third inning, but a diving catch from Albright's Chad Mackey ended the inning without harm.
A double from sophomore Jon-Mike Richards gave the Falcons another runner in scoring position in the fourth inning, as a sacrifice bunt pushed Richards to third with two outs. The team then came up empty on its next at bat.
A controversial double-play thwarted yet another scoring opportunity for Engle's team in the fifth, as senior Kyle Stuckey advanced to third following a single from senior Ben Snyder. Witmer then hit into the apparent double play, though Engle would later say he thought the Lions' shortstop went across the bag before receiving the ball from his second baseman.
Nevertheless, Messiah was able to put the first score on the board in the top of the seventh inning, as a leadoff single from sophomore Jordan Zimmerman would eventually plate the team's only run of the game. Albright's catcher made a throwing error to second base in an attempt to cut down senior Ben Jordan, who reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Zimmerman to score unearned.
Messiah's magical seventh inning would conclude with yet another base runner left in scoring position, however, as Jordan reached third base with just one out retired. A strikeout and a groundout concluded the stanza for Engle's team with just one run scored, however.
“In league games you have to capitalize on two-out hits, and that's something we've done well recently,” Engle said. “Our failure to get guys in when we had them in scoring position hurt us. Their pitcher did a great job holding us down today.”
Albright (7-7, 1-0) put its three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings, while only two were earned. A lead-off single in the bottom of the seventh allowed a chance for Messiah to turn a double play in the Lions' next at bat, but the team could only take out the lead runner. A ground rule double over the left field fence followed, while a fielding error plated Albright's lone score of the inning.
The Lions tacked on two more in the bottom of the eighth inning, as a pair of singles led to the first run scored. Even that play was contested, as Witmer fired a laser to home plate as Albright's lead-off runner came around to score. His throw was just high and off the tip of junior catcher Ben Kirk's glove, however, allowing the hosts to claim a 2-1 lead.
“Sheldon threw an absolute missile,” Engle said of the play. “Had it been lower, it would have been an out without question.”
Albright scored its second run of the stanza in its next at bat, as the Lions recorded their second double of the afternoon.
Messiah got a two-out single from Kirk in the ninth, followed by a walk from pinch-hitter Jon Ebersole, but the Falcons hit into a groundout to end the game.
Kirk was the Falcons' only multiple-hit performer of the afternoon, going 2-3. Sophomore Adam Ranck singled in a 1-3 effort, a result with importance greater than just the day's result: Ranck has now registered a hit in 13 straight games, standing just one game away from tying the program's all-time hitting streak of 14 games, set by Chris Heisey in 2006.
“Just as it didn't matter that we had won nine (games) in a row, it doesn't really matter that we've now lost one in a row,” Engle said afterward. “The biggest thing we tried to communicate to our guys is that, in conference play, this is how it's going to be. It's going to be 3-1 like today, or 4-3, or 5-4. We're not going to see lopsided games. The best thing about baseball is that you don't have to wait long to play again. You have to put this behind you and move on. League play is a great time of year, and we're excited we get to play Albright again tomorrow. It should be a fun day.”
Messiah will now host the Lions in a double-header at home Saturday afternoon. Game time for the first of two is set for 12 p.m. at the Messiah College Baseball Complex.
