Annville, PA — Host Lebanon Valley College jumped on Messiah with a four-run first inning Friday afternoon at McGill Field, generating enough pop to help to an eventual 5-4 win in MAC Commonwealth action.
Sophomore and starting pitcher Travis Thome settled in to toss five additional innings of solid work — allowing just one run off of three hits — but LVC's six-hit, four-run first proved too much to overcome in Messiah's seventh defeat in its last eight outings.
“Regardless of opponent, every time you come to the field you have to come ready to play,” said Bryan Engle, Messiah head coach. “I feel the guys were anxious to get back on the field without a doubt, but with the way we've been playing, nothing is going to be given to us. I told the team at practice yesterday that if I was another team, this is the time I'd want to play Messiah. All one has to do is look at our record and they can see we've been struggling. There's a fine line between expecting to win and knowing you are going to win. Our guys expected to win today, most likely from the fact that we swept LVC last year and they've traditionally been a team we have played well against, but I tried to wash that thought process out as best as I could because I knew we'd be in for a battle today.”
That battle got heated early, as after a double from freshman Jon Brubaker and a single from junior Adam Ranck accounted for the only Falcons' hits in the top of the first, the host Dutchmen heated up. Thome was able to strike out LVC's first batter, but allowed a pair of singles before knocking out cleanup hitter Joe Soupik with an infield fly out.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Thome could not catch the break needed to get himself out of the early jam. Four singles followed — coupled with a Falcons' throwing error on an attempted steal — equating to four LVC scores.
“It is frustrating for any pitcher to not close the door (when you've got two outs retired),” Engle said. “Travis settled in threw well after the first. He has the stuff, work ethic and demeanor to be a very good pitcher, yet sometimes he still struggles when things don't go his way. Pitching, more than any other position, has to be one where you show absolutely no emotion. Some close ball-strike calls at the plate didn't go his way and the non-verbal communication wasn't good. Now the frustration with not getting a call gets punished with a hit by maybe leaving a pitch up in the zone.”
While Thome was able to put the first inning behind him, Messiah (7-14-1, 1-3) could not get the clutch hits it would need, eventually stranding 12 runners on base for the day. Another single from Ranck was eventually plated in the third inning, while a possible multi-run rally in the sixth was cut short: Junior Dan Etter singled to lead off, and was eventually brought home when classmate Jon Shenk reached on an LVC error. With two outs retired, Brubaker ripped a double into deep right field, sending Shenk on a trek all the way to home plate.
LVC made a last second change on the relay throw in, as Dutchmen shortstop Colt Zarilla had to wheel around to change his angle for a throw to the plate.
Despite the unorthodox relay, it worked. Zarilla threw a strike to catcher Bert Malloy, nailing Shenk at the plate in a bang- bang sequence.
“Everything matters, especially in close games,” Engle said. “We had a few base running miscues today that came back to hurt us, and LVC made some plays that were tough. On that particular play, LVC lined up for a cut-relay towards third base and that's why our third base coach sent (Shenk home). Then, they throw a strike out of position to nail our base runner. Instead of second and third with one out, we now have a runner on second with two outs.”
Lebanon Valley (10-11-1, 1-0) responded with its final run in the bottom of the sixth, leaving Messiah three opportunities to climb out of the 5-2 hole.
The team came ever so close from doing so.
A two-run seventh inning made rally hopes tangible, as a single, a catcher's interference and a bunt single loaded the bases to start the stanza. A single from sophomore Sean Hart scored the first, while a throwing error allowed senior Ben Kirk to cross the plate with just one out retired.
Hart was caught stealing and LVC recorded a strikeout to get out of the jam, and the Falcons trailed by only a run.
It was a close as they would get.
A pair of singles put Ranck and Brubaker on first and second in the eighth with two outs gone, but junior Sheldon Witmer couldn't get his at-bat out of the infield, resulting in a fielder's choice to end the half inning. Messiah then got a two-out double from Hart to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth, but a lazy fly ball from Etter was caught by LVC left fielder Brandon Stoothoff, ending the game.
Ranck was impressive in his first game back after being hit in the face with a pitch against FDU-Florham, going 3-5 with a run scored. Brubaker finished 3-5 with two of the team's four doubles, while Hart (3-5, one RBI) and Etter (2-5, one run scored) accounted for the others.
Thome (1-4) was saddled with the pitching loss, going six full innings while striking out one and walking three. Junior Derek Sipe came on in the seventh inning, allowing just one hit against seven batters in two complete innings of work.
The loss was Messiah's third in four conference games this season, all of which have been decided by two runs or less.
“We hit the ball well today but lacked the clutch hits when we had opportunities,” Engle said. “The timely hitting wasn't there today. Leaving 12 guys on base hurts but we are getting opportunities. We just need to take advantage when given an opportunity. Every league game is so important and our backs are now against the wall a bit. We have to come back fighting and ready to go tomorrow.”
Messiah and LVC will conclude their three-game, regular-season series Saturday on the Falcons' home field, playing a double-header. Game time for the first of two is set for 12 p.m.
