Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Gettysburg, PA — There were two ways to look at Wednesday afternoon's split decision at Gettysburg College. Messiah head coach Amy Weaver chose the path of the optimist.
The fifth-ranked Falcons opened with a 4-1 win at the Bullets' Bobby Jones Field but dropped an 11-0 affair in the second — the most runs a Messiah team had allowed to an opponent since the 2008 season and worst loss since a 15-4 defeat to Susquehanna University back on Apr. 1, 2000.
It was also the first time the Falcons were shut out since last year's 4-0 loss to Eastern Mennonite University on Apr. 2.
Following that defeat, Messiah rattled off 26 straight wins en route to the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship — a streak that spanned through the start this season.
"(Game Two) was definitely disappointing, but we have to flush the loss out of our minds," Weaver said. "We have two important conference games (Thursday), so we will try to bounce back and see what we can do."
There were no such issues in Wednesday's first contest, as sophomore Jessica Rhoads (10-1) hurled her usual complete game in the opener, allowing just five hits and a single earned run. Rhoads struck out 10 and didn't walk a single batter, avenging her only loss of her rookie season — a 5-2 decision against Gettysburg one year ago to the day.
"Jess pitched really well," Weaver said. "She held them to just one run and pitched a good game."
The Falcons jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the top of the second inning. After Rhoads walked, freshman Stephanie Schell drove her in with a double. Schell advanced to third on a throwing error and scored unearned off a single from sophomore Lauren Seneca.
Gettysburg (11-8-1) put together three singles and a sacrifice bunt to score a run in the bottom of the third inning, cutting the Falcons' lead to 2-1.
Two more runs for the Falcons put the game away in the top of the sixth inning, however. Sophomore Abi Buchler singled and was replaced by freshman pinch-runner Daniella Pusateri. Pusateri advanced to second on a wild pitch, reached third on a groundout, and scored on a second wild pitch. Rhoads then singled to right field and was replaced by freshman Myranda Cox, who reached second on the third wild pitch of the inning. Cox scooted to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice bunt.
Wednesday's nightcap did not progress as smoothly.
Junior Tori Hatt (1-1) started for the Falcons in the pitching circle but lasted just two thirds of an inning, giving up three runs.
"Tori pulled a quad muscle in the first inning so we took her out," said Weaver. "That was unfortunate timing. We have conference games tomorrow and we didn't want to use another starting pitcher so we put in (junior) Corinn Eby and she struggled but we left her in for the rest of the game."
After Gettysburg scored three runs in the first inning, they tacked on five more in the second off of five hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch.
Gettysburg tacked on three more in the fourth inning on two hits and two walks. The Bullets' Joy Hallfors walloped a bases-clearing triple, her second of the game.
"Defensively, we had no errors today," Weaver said. "That's one good thing from today. We didn't fall apart in the field. They had 11 solid earned runs off of hits."
The Falcons left the bases loaded in the first and fourth innings, generating just one hit less than in the Game One victory. Junior Ashley Lehman had a double, complementing two-baggers from both Schell and Seneca in the opener — Schell with three and Seneca with two.
The 11 runs allowed marked the most given up by the Falcons since NCAA Division III Felician College scored 13 on March 17, 2008, and the most by a Division III institution since Susquehanna scored 11 on April 13, 2006.
"I was disappointed that we didn't score (in Game Two)," said Weaver. "We had the bases loaded two separate times but didn't get in a run. It would have been nice to not be shut out but we couldn't score runs to save our life today. It was definitely disappointing. Hopefully tomorrow the hits will come in a more timely fashion and we will score runs."
Messiah returns to Commonwealth Conference play Thursday, hosting Lycoming College at Starry Field. Game One of the double-header is slated for a 3 p.m. start.
