Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Elizabethtown, PA — Just one week out from the MAC Commonwealth Tournament, and things look to be favorable for Messiah.
Aside from hosting the event for the first time in its history, the Falcons will enter as the league's top seed — boasting an unbeaten conference record following 4-1 and 4-2 decisions at Elizabethtown College Saturday.
Messiah (32-4, 12-0) never trailed in either affair, making quick work of the host Blue Jays for the teams' 11th and 12th straight wins overall.
Things got started with a bang for the Falcons offensively, as Messiah posted all four of its Game One runs in the third inning of play. Back-to-back jacks started the scoring, as junior Abby Bergakker led off the inning with a dinger only for freshman Lauren Seneca to follow with another. Three straight singles from sophomore Rebekkah Funk, freshman Jaclyn Merkel and freshman Jessica Rhoads followed, scoring two more runs.
Those tallies would be more than enough for the visitors to hold on, as Rhoads (19-1) cruised to the pitching win, bettering her 15 strikeouts at York College yesterday with 16 Ks on the Blue Jays. E'town (11-25, 4-8) would post just three hits on Rhoads, all of which were singles.
"Overall, I thought we played solid today, but we've still got areas for improvement," said Amy Weaver, Messiah head coach. "As we meet and reevaluate our goals for the post-season, we're aware of areas that we've got to get better at. The girls are excited for the opportunity to continue to play, and improve."
Two runs in the top of the first inning in Saturday's second game paved the way for the 4-2 nightcap win, as junior Megan Rice (12-1) collected the pitching decision. A double from Rhoads and a single from junior Lindsay Hall plated those initial runs, while a third-inning solo shot from Rhoads rebuked a score from the Blue Jays in the bottom of the second.
After E'Town pulled within a 3-2 gap in the fourth, Messiah got the breathing room it needed in the seventh, taking advantage of a single from junior Nicole Adams and a Blue Jays' error to push its final run across. Rice lasted four innings in the pitching circle, while sophomore Corinn Eby served as the middle reliever, going two innings while giving up three hits. Rhoads (6) then came on in the seventh, collecting her sixth save of the year while striking out two of the four batters she faced.
Rhoads led the way at the plate as well, going 2-3 with two runs scored and two RBI thanks to her dinger and double. Adams also went 2-3 in the nightcap, while Merkel was among the key hitters in the opener, going 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
"The post-season is the most fun time of year, and I think we're excited about where we're at as a team," Weaver said. "Obviously, it's nice to go into (the conference tournament) as the number one seed, but people will be gunning for us. We've got to come ready to play each and every time we take the field."
Messiah will host next weekend's four-team MAC Commonwealth double-elimination tournament at Starry Field. Second-seeded Lebanon Valley College, third-seeded Widener University and fourth-seeded Arcadia University comprise the remainder of the field. Messiah will meet up with Arcadia at 11 a.m. Friday. To follow all the action next weekend, visit the official MAC Commonwealth Tournament website.
