Bridgewater, VA — Host Bridgewater College scored 10 of a total eight runs with two outs retired, handing visiting Messiah College a pair of 8-9 losses at the Eagles' Jopson Field Saturday.
The Falcons dropped the opener in eight innings while falling by the same score in the nine-inning nightcap, as Old Dominion Athletic Conference rules warrant seven-inning and nine-inning games in all double-headers.
Playing outdoors for just the third time in the young season, Messiah (2-4) could not make the key plays late in either contest, allowing Bridgewater 33 total hits on the day.
“It boiled down to us not pitching well,” said Bryan Engle, second-year Messiah head coach. “We hit the ball fine, for the most part we fielded it well, but we just struggled getting out of innings. Some of that is a credit to their hitters, but as a former pitcher, I want us to be better.”
Messiah was not without its chances in the day opener, as a methodical Falcons' offense helped offset a four-run first and a three-run fourth from the hosts. A pair of singles got Engle's club on the board in the opening stanza, while Messiah scored two runs in its half of the third and fourth innings to tie the game at 5-5.
The Eagles' big bottom of the fourth made it an 8-5 lead for the hosts, but a double from junior Sheldon Witmer in the fifth and five singles in the sixth helped the Falcons knot things up at 8-8. Following just one hit from either team in the seventh — freshman Wes Hollenbach hit a lead-off single for Messiah — the game moved into extra innings.
It was Bridgewater that came up huge both defensively and offensively.
Messiah made some noise in the top of the eight with two outs, as Witmer reached via single. A double from junior Jordan Zimmerman sent Witmer home, but a brilliant relay from rightfield to shortstop to catcher cut him down in a play at the plate.
Perhaps motivated by its score-preserving play, the Eagles led off with a double in their half of the eighth, following an intentional walk with a single to end the game in walk-off fashion.
Freshman Zach Adams (0-1) was saddled with the pitching loss, coming on in relief of Witmer in the fifth. The southpaw allowed just three hits in three and one-third innings pitched, unintentionally walking one and striking out one.
“I thought Zach threw great again,” Engle said. “He got us out of a huge jam in the bottom of the seventh inning with a 5-4-3 double-play. But Bridgewater made three exceptional plays from the outfield to a cut man to a play at the plate. I don't know if that's them being outside and having the chance to practice in space, or what. But it's a credit to them. We forced them to make plays, and they made them.”
Junior Adam Ranck highlighted Messiah's offensive output, going 4-5 at the plate with three runs scored. Zimmerman finishsed 3-4 with two RBI and a pair of doubles, while junior Jon Shenk and freshman John Brubaker each went 2-4.
The Falcons' lack of pitching prowess was evident in the nightcap, as the team allowed a season-high 19 hits in the day's second 8-9 defeat. Junior Derek Sipe (0-1) took the loss on the mound, entering as Messiah's third hurler of the game while going just one and two thirds innings, allowing three runs off of four hits.
Messiah's troubles started long before Sipe entered the game, however, as Bridgewater raced out to a 6-2 lead through six complete innings. A two-run first inning was cut short when Bridgewater again made a brilliant defensive play at the plate, cutting down senior Ben Kirk following a would-be RBI single from junior Dan Etter.
Engle's club eventually responded to take a lead following a monster seventh inning, as five singles led to six runs — turning the score into an 8-6 Messiah advantage.
Bridgewater would rebound with a clutch, three-run eighth inning however, making use of a pair of two-out hits and two walks to take the lead. Junior Elliott Thomas came on in relief of Sipe with just one run in and the bases loaded, but gave up a two-RBI double.
Messiah was able to load the bases by virtue of three walks in the top of the ninth, but Zimmerman struck out swinging to end the day's activities.
Etter paced Messiah's 13 hits — all of which were singles — with a 3-4 performance in the DH role, driving in one. Ranck went 2-4 with two runs scored, while Brubaker (2-4) and Hollenbach (2-5) each posted dual-hit efforts as well.
“I thought the big key today was Bridgewater's ability to get two-out hits,” Engle said. “They worse us out. They certainly had timely hitting today, but again, we've got to get better in our pitching game. I'm a firm believer that even in a 1-0 game, you can find areas to improve on the mound. Because the fact is, on a lot of their two-out hits today, it was a one-run ballgame. We take care of any number of those, and it's a different story.”
It will get no easier for Messiah next, as the team will travel to 2008 NCAA Division III World Series participant Johns Hopkins University Thursday. Starting time for the single, nine-inning affair is set for 2:30 p.m.
