By Cody Swartz, GoMessiah.com reporter
Lancaster, PA — Perhaps the mundane simply isn't in the Messiah baseball team's DNA.
Less than 48 hours after scoring eight runs in the final two innings to come back — twice! — against McDaniel College for a 14-13 win, the Falcons needed all of two runs in the top of the 11th inning at Franklin & Marshall College Thursday — eventually coming away from Caplan Field with a 6-5 victory.
The latest cardiac kid example was Messiah's sixth win in its last eight games, improving the team's winning percentage to an even .500 on the season.
“Considering we didn't execute things early and didn't play our best, it was good to get that win,” said Bryan Engle, Messiah head coach.
After seeing their bats carry the team for several games, the Falcons were led by several fine pitching outings Thursday afternoon. Sophomore Nate Roten received the start and pitched five frames, allowing just one earned run. Roten, who leads the team in earned run average (2.35) for the season, allowed four hits and four walks, receiving a no-decision for the game.
The bullpen took over in the sixth and pitched arguably its most complete team performance of the season. Four Falcons' relievers pitched six innings, allowing just two runs and two hits.
“The wind was blowing in, making it a pitcher's day, but our relief pitchers really helped us out today,” Engle said.
Sophomore Davin Okerblom pitched the sixth and seventh innings, allowing no hits and no runs, while recording two strikeouts.
“I think Davin threw the best two innings he's thrown in college so far,” Engle said.
Sophomore Zach Adams added one and a third innings, allowing just one run. Senior Elliot Thomas pitched one and two-thirds innings, allowing no runs. Sophomore Josh Hershberger (1) pitched the final inning and earned the save.
Meanwhile, the offense worked slow and steady, registering six runs on 12 hits for the day. The three through six hitters in the lineup went just 0-for-17 at the plate but it was the bottom third of the lineup that came up big, as senior Adam Ranck (2-5), sophomore Ryan Brown (2-5), and senior Jon Shenk (3-4) batted .500 amongst themselves for the game.
“We are going to need more production from the guys in the middle of the lineup,” Engle said. “We are counting on them for production and RBIs, and it's amazing that we were able to win a game with that. I think it says a lot about the guys (in the bottom third of the lineup) who stepped up, took advantage of their opportunities at the plate, and made plays for us.”
The Falcons first scored in the second inning, as a trio of singles by Ranck, Shenk and sophomore John Brubaker led to a run. Three more hits plated a run in the fourth inning, as Shenk doubled, advanced to third on Brubaker's double, and then scored off a single from junior Sean Hart.
Two more Messiah runs in the top of the sixth inning put the Falcons up by a 4-3 advantage, as Hart's two-run single scored Ranck and Brown, each of whom had reached via a base hit.
The Falcons' one-run lead stood until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Franklin & Marshall (12-18-1) was able to piece together a run on a walk, sacrifice, single and ground out to tie the game and force extra innings.
In the Falcons' top half of the eleventh frame, Shenk's one-out double put a man in scoring position for Messiah (15-15). Brubaker and sophomore pinch-hitter Tory Arnesen followed with walks to load the bases.
Sophomore Wes Hollenbach then came through with a big sacrifice fly to left field that scored Shenk. Brubaker, who took third on the out, subsequently scored on a wild pitch to plate the Falcons with a two-run advantage.
That extra run would prove pivotal.
The Diplomats threatened in the bottom of the eleventh inning, scoring a run on a double and two ground outs, but Hershberger was able to retire Bill Murray, the Diplomats' team leader in extra-base hits for the season.
Hart paved the way offensively for the Falcons, driving in three runs on a pair of hits, raising the junior's batting average on the season to .333 (6-18). Brubaker finished 3-4 with an RBI, while the aforementioned combo of Ranck, Brown and Shenk accounted for the remainder of Messiah's hitting.
Messiah now heads into its biggest three-game set of its season, as the squad is in desperate need of Commonwealth Conference wins in order to have a shot at the post-season tournament. The Falcons will tangle with Arcadia University in a three-game series beginning Friday at the Knights' home field. The action will then shift back to Grantham, Pa. Saturday.
“Regardless of what I tell them, the guys know that we need to take (this weekend series) one game at a time,” Engle said. “We can't take Game Two before we take Game One, so we are going to need to come out and just play well.”
Game time for Friday's single-header is set for 3:30 p.m.
