Concorida Box Score | FDU-Florham Box Score
Orlando, FL — A workmanlike effort from freshman pitching star Jessica Rhoads and a walk-off groundout highlighted Messiah's latest victories at the National Training Center Softball Complex, as the Falcons knocked off Concordia University 2-1 in extra innings and FDU-Florham 7-1 Thursday.
Rhoads (8-0) captured both pitching wins, coming on in relief against the Concordia Falcons and limiting the FDU-Florham Devils to just two hits in the nightcap.
The former lasted nine innings — Messiah's first extra-inning affair of the season — concluding on a perfectly executed squeeze play to finish things off in dramatic fashion.
"We are extremely happy to come away with two wins against two very good teams," said Amy Weaver, Messiah head coach. "Jess Rhoads was again fantastic, and we really played outstanding defense all day. It was just really good to get two wins against good competition."
Coming off an idle Wednesday, Messiah (13-1) entered Thursday's action having dropped out of the latest NFCA Top 25 Poll, a tough out after having lost just a singular game.
The Falcons' bats struggled to get going in Thursday's opener with Concordia (4-9), generating just seven hits through seven full innings of play. Junior Megan Rice got the start in the pitcher's circle, going four and one third innings while allowing just four hits, striking out three. Rhoads then came on in the fifth — eventually finishing the nine-inning affair with eight strikeouts (she faced just 15 batters) allowing one run off of two hits.
A pitcher's duel throughout scheduled play, Concordia's Falcons were the first team to get on the board in the top of the eighth. After a runner was placed on second base to open the extra stanza, a single from Concordia's Sheri Weidner drove her in. Rhoads limited the damage by striking out the side, but Messiah needed a score to stay alive.
Thanks to a pair of sacrifice outs, it did.
Junior Tori Hatt was placed on second base and was eventually driven home on a SAC fly from sophomore Rebekkah Funk, advancing to third on a groundout from freshman Abi Buchler.
Stellar defense would then keep Concordia scoreless in the top of the ninth.
A leadoff groundout moved the Falcons' runner to third base to open the top half of the inning, while junior Nicole Adams scooped an ensuing grounder and fired it to senior catcher Amy Bowie, cutting down the go-ahead run at the plate. Bowie then threw out Concordia's base runner on a stolen base attempt, ending the half inning with all the momentum on Messiah's side.
In the bottom of the inning, Messiah would successfully utilize speed on the base paths to finish strong.
With Merkel placed on second base to start things, Bowie moved her to first on a sacrifice groundout. Adams then grounded out to the pitcher, and Merkel was able to get to the plate, beating the throw from first.
Arguably Messiah's most exciting game of the year had ended in a win.
"It was an absolute battle," Weaver said. "Our bats were dead. When we did get people on, we couldn't knock them in. To win the way we did in a tie-breaker was great. Jess came on to relieve Megan and did an excellent job."
Merkel finished as Messiah's only multiple-hit performer of the game, going 2-3 with the all-important winning run scored. Funk and Adams were responsible for Messiah's two RBI, each coming in sacrifice fashion.
Perhaps jolted by its early-morning drama, Messiah blew past FDU-Florham (5-2) in the day's second contest, blasting 12 hits — including two doubles and a homer — in the 7-1 win over the Devils.
Rhoads was again spectacular striking out nine of 22 batters faced, allowing just one hit — though it was a solo home run in the bottom of the first.
Messiah remained unfazed, utilizing a leadoff single from junior Abby Bergakker and a follow-up double from Merkel to tie things in the third. A Buchler single drove in another in the fourth, while the Falcons exploded for four runs in the sixth, as a double from Buchler and a homer from Merkel each drove in two.
The Falcons then tacked on an insurance run in the visitor's half of the seventh, driven home off another single from Buchler.
Buchler finished with a monstrous game at the plate, going 5-5 with four RBI and a run scored. Merkel went 2-3 with three RBI — her home run was the freshman's third of the season — while Bowie went 2-3 as well.
"Our bats came alive mid-game and we just got going and outhit them," Weaver said. "Jess again pitched well, going six innings for a total 10 and a half innings on the day."
Messiah will close out its spring-break Florida swing next, as the team faces off against Babson College and Keene State College Friday. Game times are slated for 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
