Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Reading, PA — Sophomore pitcher Jessica Rhoads has virtually re-written the Messiah record books in less than two years in a Falcons uniform, with only a perfect game alluding her.
No more.
Rhoads was pure perfection in Saturday's opener at Commonwealth Conference rival Albright College, allowing nary a base runner in an eight-inning, 2-0 win for the Falcons.
It was Rhoads' first perfect game at the collegiate level and second in the history of Messiah softball; Rhoads' feat joining then-sophomore Megan Rice's perfect win over Mary Baldwin College back on Mar. 10, 2007.
Rhoads then saddled back up in the pitching circle to help Messiah to a Game Two win Saturday, limiting the host Lions to just three hits in a 6-0 nightcap win.
"Jess was outstanding today," said Amy Weaver, Messiah head coach. "Throwing a perfect game was really the only thing she hadn't done yet. She's thrown no hitters, struck out as many as 19 batters in a single game, won a national championship … this was really the last statistical thing she could have hoped for. I'm thrilled for her."
To take nothing away from Rice's performance two years back, it didn't quite have the drama of Rhoads'. When Rice hurled her perfect game, the Falcons led 9-0 after five innings, causing the game to be stopped.
Rhoads had the exact opposite, as her teammates struggled against the pitching of Albright's Jaime Weckesser, who was celebrating her 20th birthday. Weckesser allowed just five hits and zero runs in the first seven innings of Saturday's opener — a solid birthday present in and of itself.
In the eighth, Weckesser began to tire, however, as she walked sophomore Abi Buchler to lead off the inning. Freshman Myranda Cox pinch-ran for Buchler, and scampered to second on a passed ball. Senior Abby Bergakker then sacrificed Cox to third. Sophomore Lauren Seneca lined out to Weckesser, the second out of the inning, but freshman Stephanie Schell walked to keep the inning alive.
Up to the plate stepped the game's hero, Rhoads, who had an opportunity to put her team on the board with a solid base hit. Rhoads came through with a single, and after an error by Albright center fielder Brandy Lagomarsino, Cox scored the game's first run. Schell advanced to third, and Rhoads to second. Schell then scored on a wild pitch, and the Falcons took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning.
Rhoads took the circle with a chance to make history. Weckesser grounded out to third for the first out of the inning. The Lions' Kiersten Gilfroy struck out swinging. And junior Melanie Chapman struck out looking, completing the first extra-inning perfect game in Messiah softball history.
In game one, Rhoads obviously faced the minimum 24 batters. She struck out 14 and collected her 19th win and 10th shutout of the season.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Falcons pitched Rhoads again.
It may not have been statistical perfection, but it was close.
The right hander responded with six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits — all harmless singles — while walking one and striking out 12. She collected her 20th victory on the season, while lowering her earned run average to a ridiculous 0.37.
Rhoads (20-1) was relieved by senior Tori Hatt in the bottom of the seventh, and Hatt allowed just a walk while striking out two of the four hitters she faced to complete the second consecutive shutout for Messiah (28-5, 9-1), and the sixth in the last seven games.
The Falcons didn't score in the first three innings of the second game, before tallying a run in the fourth on a Schell double and an RBI single from sophomore Jess Brown.
In the fifth, Weaver's club collected two more runs: Hatt led off the inning with a single and was replaced by freshman pinch-runner Daniella Pusateri. Sophomore Ashley Lehman laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt and both she and Pusateri reached safely. Sophomore Jaclyn Merkel then put down another sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third with one out. With two outs retired, Bergakker smacked a big two-run single, scoring Pusateri and Lehman, and extending the Falcons' lead to 3-0.
Messiah added two more runs in the sixth behind singles by Schell, senior Nicole Adams and Hatt, and a ground-rule double by Merkel. In the seventh, Bergakker reached on a hit by pitch, scampered to second on a sacrifice bunt, darted to third on a single, and scored on a wild pitch.
For the day, Rhoads turned in 14 brilliant innings, allowing just three hits and zero runs. She struck out 26 of the 46 batters she faced. This season Rhoads has scored more runs as a hitter (nine) than she has allowed in 133 innings pitched.
Schell collected four hits in the second game, and raised her team-leading batting average (among starters) to .447.
Messiah, ranked seventh in the latest NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll, is currently one of the hottest teams in the nation, winners of its last 10, seven by shutout.
The Falcons will be idle until Thursday, when the team hosts Baptist Bible College in a non-conference double-header. Game time for the first of two is set for 3 p.m.
