Box Score
By Cody Swartz, GoMessiah.com reporter
Washington, DC - Last year, the Messiah Falcons had no home runs through their first 18 games. This year, they had two home runs through four batters.
John Brubaker homered to left field,
Ryan Brown homered to right center field, and the Falcons had an early 2-0 lead on a team that won its conference championship and qualified for regional playoffs.
Unfortunately, the strong start didn't carry through the remainder of the game: Messiah (0-1) mustered just one run in the final eight innings, losing their opening day matchup to the Catholic Cardinals (1-0) by a 4-3 score.
“The home runs were a great start but you just have to complete things,” said Steve DeRiggs, Messiah's head baseball coach. “I thought it was a good outing against a team that was a quality opponent, a regional competitor last year. On the road first game, you have to be pleased with the effort. You don't want a loss, but overall we were pleased with most of our execution, and the pitching will come along.”
The Falcons were also plagued by sloppy play - five hit batsmen from the pitchers, three wild pitches, and two errors were not evident of the capabilities this team has. In all though, it was a valiant effort against a top team, one that the Falcons hope to run into later in the year come postseason time.
Senior
Tory Arnesen took the mound for the Falcons, making his first opening day start in a Messiah uniform. A First-Team All-Conference selection last year, Arnesen allowed just one earned run in four innings on the mound. He did struggle with his control though, hitting four batters and throwing several wild pitches. Arnesen struck out three batters and wasn't helped by a pair of errors at the hot corner, ultimately leading to two of the three runs Arnesen let up being unearned.
“(Tory) didn't have command of his pitches, but (he) has been such a stalwart for us the last two years and I know he's going to get into a rhythm,” DeRiggs said. “The first game out can be difficult to get into a rhythm. He just wasn't there today but I am sure he will step up and be extremely productive for us.”
The Falcons' offense was lacking after the first-inning explosion. The team collected just six singles and one run the remainder of the way, leaving the bases loaded in the fourth inning and two runners on in the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings. For the game, Messiah stranded 11 runners on base.
“I want to see a little more creation, a little more run and hit, maybe some bunting and some other things that didn't work out today,” DeRiggs said.
Offensively, Brubaker and Brown highlighted the at-bats. Brubaker collected two hits, including his first-inning home run. Dating back to last year, it was the seventh consecutive multi-hit game for the shortstop. Brown, who tied with Arnesen for the team lead in home runs last year, also singled in the seventh inning. His walk in the ninth inning put two on as the Falcons threatened to tie the contest, but a fly ball to right field ended the game.
Davin Okerblom and
Zach Adams contributed in relief after Arnesen left the game. Okerblom pitched the fifth and sixth innings, allowing one run. Adams, Messiah's all-time career leader in relief appearances, pitched two shutout innings.
“I thought they both pitched well,” DeRiggs said. “(There) was one mistake, a curveball up high, and that was the difference in the game, but overall those two guys did a nice job.”
The Falcons play again on Saturday, February 25, traveling to Bridgewater, Va., to play the Bears in a Saturday doubleheader.
“They are both nine inning games so we will get a chance to get a lot of people into games and that's what the early season is: a chance to get a good look at everybody,” DeRiggs said. “By the time you get your team back from Florida, you gotta have everybody ready, and that's the plan.”
