Box Score
By Cody Swartz, GoMessiah.com reporter
Selinsgrove, PA — All in all, it was not a bad way to head into the biggest three-game stretch of the season.
Messiah (19-15) beat Susquehanna University (10-19), 6-4, in non-conference action Wednesday. It was the Falcons' 15th win in the last 19 games, preparing the stage for a three-game league series with top-seeded Alvernia University that will determine whether the Falcons earn the first or second seed in the upcoming Commonwealth Conference Tournament.
“Our plan today was to rest a few of our starters, and get quality time for a lot of the players who wouldn't normally start,” said Steve DeRiggs, Messiah head coach. “We were able to do that and still come up with a victory. This sets the stage for our big game tomorrow.”
The Falcons sent freshman Paul Broomell to the mound against the Crusaders. Broomell threw a strong outing in his fourth career start for Messiah, pitching into the sixth inning. Broomell (1-0) allowed three earned runs on eight hits and one walk, earning his first collegiate win in the process.
“Paul has made a lot of progress for us,” DeRiggs said. “He's gained some valuable experience and I expect him to be one of the four rotation starters next year. He got a nice collegiate win today and it was very pleasant to see his growth as a pitcher. He's composed on the mound, shows good movement and has good command.”
Broomell was backed by early run support from the Falcons' offense, as Messiah scored a run in the first inning, two more in the fourth and three in the top of the fifth.
Junior Sam Tajiri led off the game with a walk and advanced around the bases on a wild pitch, passed ball and ground out, giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead just two batters into the game.
In the fourth inning, senior Jamie Scott hit a two-out, two-run double to score junior Tory Arnesen and sophomore Paul Mellinger, plating the Falcons with a 3-0 advantage.
Four straight singles to lead off the fifth inning, coupled with a passed ball and a sacrifice play, gave the Falcons a 6-1 lead.
Junior Davin Okerblom came into the game in the sixth inning in relief of Broomell and pitched through the seventh. Classmate Zach Adams followed with a scoreless eighth inning on the mound and senior Josh Hershberger closed out the game in the ninth, getting a double play to earn his second save of the season.
Scott highlighted the day offensively for the Falcons, collecting two hits and two RBI.
“Jamie Scott had a big hit for us today,” DeRiggs said. “He has been the most improved player on the team from last year to this year. He has really had a strong impact on the team this year. (Senior) Sean Hart also played remarkably well. Both of them play superb defense and have shown a lot of improvement over their careers here at Messiah.”
Tomorrow the Falcons will send senior Eric Spring to the mound against Alvernia in arguably the most important regular-season game of the season thus far for Messiah. Game time for this matchup is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Alvernia's Angelica Park. The teams will then combat in a double-header Monday at Messiah.
“Eric is pitching one of the most important games of his college career,” DeRiggs said. “This is the first game of the last series and it sets the momentum. We're just going to have to accept the challenge, and bring our A-game.”
