Game 1 Box Score -
Game 2 Box Score
Fredericksburg, VA - The Messiah College Falcons traveled to the University of Mary Washington Saturday to open up their 2012 softball season with a split decision. Despite several defensive errors in Game 1, the Falcons (1-1) rallied to push the game-winning run across the plate in the 8th inning for the 7-6 win. In Game 2, Messiah's challenges continued as they had a tough time adjusting to the pitcher's style. The Falcons would score only one run in the 7th to the Eagles' six.
"We hit the ball really well in Game 1, but we struggled defensively," Messiah head coach
Amy Weaver said. "Fortunately, our bats came through and helped us win the game. We turned things around on defense in the second game, but couldn't get it together offensively. When we bring these two things together, we're going to win."
After a scoreless first inning of Game 1, the Falcons put the first runs on the board in the second. Senior
Lauren Seneca led-off the inning with a double to right field and advanced to third on a single from sophomore
Lauren Smith. In the next at-bat, sophomore Sara Dietrich singled up-the-middle to score Seneca. After a pass ball that advanced the runners, freshman
Nicole Blantz's ground-out to second was enough to bring in Smith and put Messiah in the lead 2-0.
In the bottom of the second, Dietrich dominated the circle forcing the Eagles to go 1-2-3 with a ground out, strike out, and pop-up.
The Falcons manufactured an additional run in the third to extend their lead to 3-0. After singles from senior
Abi Buchler and junior
Stephanie Schell,
Lauren Seneca hit her second double in the same number of at-bats to score Buchler.
Mary Washington would slowly chip away at Messiah's lead by scoring one run on two hits in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, but the Falcons wouldn't go down without a fight.
In the top of the sixth, Messiah strung together three runs off of a walk from Smith and singles from Dietrich, sophomore
Amanda Fife, and Buchler to bring Messiah's lead back to 6-3.
Despite being shut down in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Eagles' bats would come to life when it counted the most - in the bottom of the seventh. Dietrich gave up three runs on three hits before junior
Jocelyn Hickey (1-0) took over in relief to close out the inning with a walk and a fly-out.
With the score tied at 6-6, the Falcons showed no signs of defeat.
Fife led-off the inning with a very important, up-the-middle single. After a strike out by Blantz,
Sarah Seneca blistered the ball to right field for a triple and more importantly drove in the go-ahead run.
With a runner in scoring position and only one out, the Falcons looked to extend their lead. Buchler stepped into the box and hit the ball to Morgan Lamon at first base. Seeing
Sarah Seneca immediately break for home, Lamon ignored Buchler on her way to first base and threw straight home for the out at the plate. Messiah's last scoring opportunity was thwarted by a great heads-up play from Lamon.
Fortunately for the Falcons, one run was enough.
In the bottom of the eighth, Hickey took control giving up only one walk and forcing a ground out, fly out, and strike out to end the game in the Falcons' favor.
“We jumped on them early, which was really positive,” Weaver said. “We were hitting the ball pretty hard, even though we got out, and that was contagious. In the end, we scored when it counted.”
In Game 2, the Falcons struggled to adjust to the Eagles' pitcher, Hannah Otterman, resulting in only one run scored and eight runners left-on-base.
“Her [Otterman's] style threw us off,” Weaver said. “She kept the ball high and we didn't adjust. It's not an excuse for our lack of offense, but we will definitely be working on adjusting to different styles (of pitching) in practice this week.”
Despite Messiah's offensive struggles, Buchler and Blantz showed little signs of distress, going 3 for 4 and 2 for 3, respectively, with Buchler driving in the Falcons' only run in the seventh inning.
In her collegiate debut on the mound, freshman
Mallory Rutledge (0-1) faced 28 batters, conceded six runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings.
“Our defense was better in the second game, but our offense was lacking,” Weaver said. “It was hard to dig ourselves out of a four-run deficit early on. They [Mary Washington] hit the ball well, but we didn't answer.”
The Falcons will take the week off and prepare for their first of two trips to Florida, where they will open up play against Augustana College on Friday at 10:00 a.m. followed by the University of Michigan-Dearborn (NAIA) at 12:00 p.m. Their final Florida game will be played on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. against Augustana College.
