Game 1 Box Score - Game 2 Box Score
By Cody Swartz, GoMessiah.com reporter
Bridgewater, VA — If only Saturday's double-header with Bridgewater College had been the normal, seven-inning affairs.
For it was a dreadful ninth inning that ruined Messiah's chances at a sweep.
Messiah split its double-header with the Eagles in heartbreaking fashion, dropping a 9-6 loss in the opener before rebounding for a gut-check, 3-1 win in the nightcap. In the first game, Bridgewater scored seven runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, capped off by a three-run walk-off home run. The Falcons bounced back in the nightcap with a commanding win behind a tremendous pitching performance by senior Travis Thome.
“We really controlled the outcome for 17 of the 18 innings against a very quality opponent,” said Steve DeRiggs, Messiah head coach. “We just need to finish the games.”
Senior Eric Spring (0-1) took the mound in Game One and threw six superb innings, limiting the Eagles to just three hits and no earned runs.
“Eric Spring pitched a tremendous game for us, picking up right where he left off in his last start,” said Elliot Thomas, Messiah pitching coach. “We couldn't ask for a better start to the season from Eric.”
Meanwhile, the Falcons strung together some early runs at the plate, picking up one run apiece in the second, third and fourth innings, as juniors Tory Arnesen, Ryan Brown and Sam Tajiri each hit RBI singles to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead.
The Eagles capitalized on a Falcons' error to score two runs in their half of the fourth inning, but Messiah scored two quick runs on the team's next at bat. Senior Jamie Scott scored on the front end of a double steal and junior John Brubaker chipped in with an RBI single to put the Falcons at a 5-2 advantage.
On the pitching circle, Spring finished the sixth inning strong, getting out of a two-on, no-out situation with a double play and a groundout. Arnesen pitched the seventh and eighth innings in relief, holding the Eagles scoreless, and another RBI single by Tajiri during the Falcons' half of the eighth gave the Falcons a seemingly insurmountable 6-2 lead.
What followed was an inning to forget for Messiah (2-4), as the Eagles scored seven runs, all with two outs, to steal an almost certain victory from the Falcons.
It was the second time in as many weeks that Bridgewater (4-3) pulled off a comeback for the ages, as the Eagles were still fresh off a rally that saw six runs with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat second-ranked Cortland State, 15-14.
This comeback — against a pair of Messiah relief pitchers — was capped off by a walk-off home run that dropped the Falcons to 1-4 on the season.
“We are certainly going to need to do a better job of closing out games,” DeRiggs said.
Not to be forgotten in the first game was a fine offensive outing by the Falcons, who collected 13 hits and four walks. Tajiri and Brubaker led the group with three hits apiece, while Arnesen added two of his own.
In Game Two, with Messiah in much need of a win to end the day on a positive note, the team turned to veteran pitcher Thome, a regular in Messiah's starting rotation for each of his four years.
Thome (1-2) didn't disappoint, turning in a complete game three-hitter to earn the win. He allowed just a single unearned run, walked two and struck out four batters. In all, it was a gutsy outing by the senior captain of the Falcons, who dazzled the Eagles for nine innings — an unusual allotment for a double-header. Messiah and Bridgewater played a pair of nine-inning games instead of the usual seven inning affairs, due to the host's desire for more early-season, in-game experience.
“Travis gave us a super performance,” DeRiggs said. “He was totally in control today and it was when we needed him the most.”
Dating back to the Falcons' first double-header of the year, the Falcons' starting pitchers have now pitched 28.2 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run. In six games, the Falcons' starters have allowed just seven earned runs.
“Our starting pitching has been extremely efficient,” DeRiggs said. “This is definitely a cause for optimism. We have had very good numbers from our starters.”
Two first inning runs by Messiah in Thome's start were all the scoring the team needed, as a plethora of singles to lead off the game — with junior Wes Hollenbach and senior Jordan Snader knocking in the runs — giving Thome a two-run lead before he ever set foot on the mound.
Tajiri provided the Falcons with an insurance score in the fifth inning, as the fleet-footed junior singled, stole second and scored on Mellinger's single.
For the day, Tajiri led the Falcons offensively with five hits, four steals, three runs and two RBI, while also pulling in nine putouts in the field. Brubaker and Mellinger each had three-hit days as well, while teaming up on three double plays in the field.
“Sam Tajiri played very well in the outfield,” DeRiggs said. “He really exploded at the plate. He's been our leading hitter for two years, and he gave the team a tremendous boost with his legs, bat and glove. Paul Mellinger played flawless defense and had three hits, and John Brubaker also had a great day at the plate.
“I thought it was critical that our team bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to defeat a quality opponent and win on enemy territory,” DeRiggs continued. “The players responded well to Coach Etter and Coach (Mike) Santoro's work in the batting cages.”
After combining for 16 hits and 25 strikeouts in last week's double-header split against Eastern Mennonite University, the Falcons totaled 23 hits against just 15 strikeouts Saturday against Bridgewater.
The Falcons will use another week of practice before taking on Dickinson College next Saturday in the team's fourth straight away double-header. Game time for the first of two is slated for 12 p.m.
