Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Score
Grantham, PA — After playing nearly a month of softball away from its own field, Messiah finally began its 2009 home schedule Tuesday afternoon, splitting 2-5 and 5-1 decisions with neighboring rival Gettysburg College.
A newly renovated stadium welcomed the Falcons in spectacular fashion, though Gettysburg (16-6) made freshman Jessica Rhoad's home debut less than spectacular in the opener. Messiah's pitching ace suffered her first collegiate loss in 11 starts with the 5-2 decision, giving up four hits and four walks en route to five scores.
Rhoads (11-1) entered the game having given up just four runs, 11 hits and 16 walks in 14 appearances.
"Jess was a little off, no question," said Amy Weaver, Messiah head coach. "But we were very excited to be playing our home opener in what I consider to be a beautiful facility. We had some good hits from some people at times in the first game, but we couldn't string those hits together enough. Combine sporadic hitting with Jess giving up the most runs of the season by far, and we gave up a loss."
Messiah (19-3) took an early 2-0 lead in the opener, as a lead-off double from senior Amy Bowie was eventually driven in by a single from junior Abby Bergakker. A double from Rhoads pushed junior Nicole Adams across the plate — she reached on a walk — and the Falcons were in business.
The Bullets responded by getting to Rhoads in the top half of the third, however, finally adjusting to the right-hander's assortment of pitches. A key double plated two scores in the third, while another two-bagger brought two more runs across in the fifth inning.
When Rhoads gave up her fourth walk of the afternoon to lead off the seventh inning, Weaver removed her from duties, inserting sophomore Corinn Eby. Eby forced two ground outs and recorded a strikeout, but not before a Messiah error allowed the fifth run to cross the plate.
Bullets' pitcher Kristy Rubino made things difficult for the Falcons in their offensive halves, limiting the hosts to just six hits on the day. Only Bowie's and Rhoads' were extra-base knocks, while no Messiah batter recorded a multiple-hit contest.
Fortunately for Weaver and company, that all changed in the nightcap.
Junior Megan Rice (7-1) went the distance in the pitching circle while her teammates exploded for nine hits, leading to the squad's ninth win in its last 11 games.
A three-run second inning paced things, as just two singles and a Gettysburg error would lead to three runs scored. Bowie led things off with a single to centerfield, followed by another walk from Adams and a single from freshman Ashley Lehman. An issued walk to sophomore Rebecca Stackhouse brought the Falcons' first run in on a bases loaded scenario, while Lehman and freshman Lauren Seneca scored on a Bullets' fielding error.
Gettysburg was able to tack on its lone run in the top of the fourth — Rice allowed her only walk of the game and a single in that stanza — before Messiah responded with two more runs in the fifth inning. Four singles and a walk led to those scores, as the Falcons received RBI base knocks from Lehman and junior Lindsay Hall.
Rice finished the game allowing just five hits in the pitching circle, firing four strikeouts to go with just one walk and no wild pitches or passed balls.
"Game Two was just interesting," Weaver said. "We had some nice hits, but most of our runs were scored on Gettysburg mistakes. I am proud of the team for taking advantage of those mistakes. We had some nice base running where our team took advantage of their mistakes to score some runs. Megan pitched a great game holding them to one run and really shutting down their bats. It was ugly at times, but we found a way to pull out the win."
All nine of Messiah's Game Two hits were singles, as Lehman led the way with a 3-3 performance. Junior Lindsay Hall finished 2-3, as did Bowie.
The contests were the first of a 16-game home stand for the team over the next 19 days, as Messiah will return to its friendly confines in less than 24 hours — a double-header with Eastern Mennonite University is slated for tomorrow. Game time for the first of two is set for 2:30 p.m
