By Cody Swartz, GoMessiah.com reporter
Auburndale, FL — Messiah split a double-header Tuesday against the Oneonta State University, winning the first one on a six-run comeback in the last inning. The win didn't carry over, however, as the Falcons lost the nightcap, 16-2, in a way that can only be summed up in one word: Forgettable.
In the first game, freshman Paul Broomell received the start, making his first collegiate appearance on the mound. The right-hander threw five innings, allowing four earned runs. He walked just one batter and struck out four.
“I thought Paul did pretty well,” said Elliot Thomas, Messiah pitching coach. “He definitely settled in during his last two innings. I expect any freshmen's first start to be jittery but I saw good things and I think he'll settle into a starting role. Maybe not this year, but in the future.”
The Falcons didn't give Broomell much run support on the mound, scoring just once in the first six innings — off a John Brubaker RBI single that scored Sam Tajiri — and the Falcons headed to the seventh inning down 6-1.
Sophomore Drew Frankenfield worked a walk to start what turned into an epic rally. Following a single by senior Sean Hart, a wild pitch, and walks to both Tajiri and Brubaker, the Falcons had the bases loaded with one out for sophomore Paul Mellinger.
Mellinger was hit by the pitch to force in a run, cutting the deficit to 6-3. Junior Ryan Brown smoked a two-run single to center field and classmate Wes Hollenbach capped off the rally with a deep triple to center field that put the Falcons up 7-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Red Dragons threatened in their last licks at the plate, putting two runners on and scoring one on a wild pitch to make it a one-run game, but junior Zach Adams bore down and recorded a strikeout and a fly out to right field to earn the save.
“That is why you don't give up,” said Steve DeRiggs, Messiah head coach. “You just got to keep on believing. That was another terrific team effort.”
Freshman Colby Helgerson (1-0), who threw a scoreless sixth inning in his first appearance for Messiah, earned the win.
Unfortunately for Messiah (4-10), the momentum from Game One didn't carry over to the second game, as Oneonta State (4-4) scored early and often, taking a 10-0 lead through just four frames.
Freshman Chris Gill (0-1) started for the Falcons, pitching into the third inning and taking the loss for the day.
“Chris struggled with his control but I am confident he will be ok the next time we put him out there,” Thomas said. “We've been working a lot with Chris and I believe he has a ton of potential.”
The Red Dragons continued to score against a slew of Falcons' relievers, putting up 16 runs in just seven innings of play. Oneonta State pitcher Jeff Carter went the distance, holding Messiah to just two runs on four hits.
Meanwhile, the Falcons — in arguably their sloppiest game of the season — allowed 14 hits, eight walks and committed six errors in the field.
“We're just going to have to move on from this game and forget about it,” DeRiggs said. “It shouldn't take away from our win in Game One; I think that was a great effort from us.”
The Falcons have just one game remaining in their Florida spring break before the team returns to Pennsylvania for a Saturday double-header against Albright College, the first of Commonwealth Conference action. Game time for the first of the two games is set for 12 p.m.
