Box Score Game 1 -
Box Score Game 2
by Cody Swartz, GoMessiah.com reporter
Bridgewater, VA - Missed opportunities was the theme of Saturday's doubleheader with the Bridgewater Eagles (7-1), as the Messiah Falcons failed to capitalize on 24 hits and 14 runs for the day, ultimately dropping both contests to fall to 0-3 on the season. The first was by a 10-9 score that featured three lead changes and the second was an 11-5 loss highlighted by walks, errors, and runners stranded on base.
“We had plenty of opportunities, and now we just have to lick our wounds, build on what we did right, and fix what we didn't do right,” Messiah's head baseball coach Steve DeRiggs said.
The Falcons looked like they would win the first game easily, jumping to a 5-0 lead in the third inning behind another dose of strong offense. Junior
Matt Turman jump started the rally with a double,
Sam Tajiri followed with a bunt single to put runners on the corners, and senior
John Brubaker drilled an RBI double. Classmate
Wes Hollenbach followed with a two-run single, and then
Ryan Brown blasted a two-run home run to center field, giving the Falcons a 5-0 lead.
It looked as if the lead would hold up, especially with last year's Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year
Jon Lapp on the mound. The Eagles then collected eight hits and seven runs in the bottom of the third inning, hitting last year's team ERA leader hard.
“They hit every pitch (Jon) had,” DeRiggs said. “They're 7-1, they're a very good ballclub, and they just hit him. Early in the year, I don't think Jon was throwing his best, but for some reason they picked it up well and they jumped on him. We have a lot of confidence in Jon and we expect him to come right back out next time and pitch well.
“We jumped out to a 5-0 lead, just like we did against Catholic, but you have to finish games,” DeRiggs added. “You can't get too high when you get a lead and you can't get too low when you fall behind. This game is a game of emotion but you have to keep it in check and keep your poise and keep your focus and I think we lost it in that one inning.”
Down 7-5 through three innings, Messiah jumped right back out with three runs in the top of the fourth inning on hits by Tajiri, Hollenbach, Brown, and freshman
Derek Drake, regaining the lead by one run.
Pitcher
Galen Halteman entered in the bottom of the fourth inning with no outs and a man on base, and the junior walk-on – making his first collegiate pitching appearance – induced a 6-4-3 double play and a ground ball out to escape the fourth inning unharmed.
Halteman pitched a scoreless fifth inning before a dose of errors in the sixth inning put three on the board and gave the Eagles a 10-8 lead they would not relinquish. Halteman (0-1) was charged with the loss, although his debut in a Messiah uniform was impressive.
“I put a lot of trust in Galen and as a walk-on, he's been an extremely pleasant surprise,” DeRiggs said. “He had a great fall and he possesses the mental makeup to be a good pitcher. His attitude is excellent and right now, he has the best breaking ball on the team. I like his composure. He's confident. Confidence and experience go together, and that leads to success.”
Messiah had several more opportunities to strong together some runs and force extra innings but couldn't do it. A caught stealing in the sixth inning was costly. Hollenbach and junior
Paul Mellinger were both stranded in consecutive innings following doubles. And a late rally fell just short: Hollenbach homered to right field to lead off the ninth inning and bring the Falcons within one, but the team couldn't muster together another run. Brown singled and was sacrificed to second base but was stranded after a fly out and ground out ended the game.
In the nightcap, the Falcons went down early, as the Eagles tacked on three runs on a second-inning bases-loaded double against sophomore pitcher
Paul Broomell. Broomell settled down then and tossed six strong innings, allowing just five hits and one walk. He gave up just two hits after the second inning and retired the final seven batters he faced.
“I'm very excited and pleased with everything about
Paul Broomell,” DeRiggs said. “He's worked hard, his offseason work ethic was excellent, his execution on the mound is superb, and his competitiveness is obvious. I think he will be a key factor in our weekend games, striving for conference wins.”
Broomell wasn't backed by much offense, as Messiah left him with a 3-0 deficit when he was removed from the game. Shaky outings from the Messiah bullpen gave the Eagles eight more runs for the day, wiping out five late runs from the Falcons' offense.
“Right now, the bullpen is similar to how we started last year,” DeRiggs said. “We started rocky last year but hopefully it will come around and be an effective tool for us like it happened last year. We are still trying to find the pieces and we hope that one or two guys will step up for us.”
What also cost Messiah was poor hitting with men on base. Despite outhitting the Eagles 9-7 in the second game, the Falcons were outscored by six runs. The Falcons stranded 11 men on base to the Eagles' four.
“Someone has to get a timely hit,” DeRiggs said. “You feed off each other. Right now, we've actually hit the ball well. 24 hits in two games – you should win when you have that in a two-game span, and we had a number of extra-base hits. We have four home runs in three games now. I've been enc ouraged by our hitting to all fields. What is still missing is that timely hit with men on base. We had a couple Saturday but not enough. Good hitting feeds off of good hitting; it's an infectious thing.”
The Falcons did receive some strong offensive contributions – Hollenbach, Brown, and Tajiri led the offensive barrage. Hollenbach collected five hits on the day, including a double, home run, and a pair of walks, while scoring four times and driving in four runs. Brown hit his team-leading second home run of the season, and also added a single, double, two hit by pitches, and three runs batted in. Tajiri reached base an incredible eight times, all without hitting the ball out of the infield – using his speed to reach on a pair of bunt singles, two infield hits, an error, and capitalizing on a hit by pitch and two walks.
“
Wes Hollenbach has been a tremendous leader as a captain, both on and off the field,” DeRiggs said. “He's been hitting to all fields, he hits with power, he's clutch, he's just been an excellent three-hole hitter.
Ryan Brown is a terrific power hitter, and
Sam Tajiri is the straw that gets the game going. He's come on in the last two games, and really picked it up.”
Drake, the only freshman to start all three games so far, collected three hits on the day, including his first collegiate extra-base hit. Lapp was an offensive force in the second game, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a pair of singles, driving in two runs.
Paul Mellinger also had a terrific day at the plate, adding four hits, including a double, and his usual flawless defense at second base.
The Falcons have four days off before they travel to Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday to take on Johns Hopkins University, a nationally-ranked team that the Falcons disposed of by a 10-3 score last year.
Following that game, Messiah will play its first home games of the year, hosting Dickinson College in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. Game time for Thursday's contest is set for 3 p.m., while Saturday's home opener will start at 12 p.m.
