SUNY Geneseo Box Score I
Rutgers-Newark Box Score
Clermont, FL - The Falcons opened up their Spring Break games at Legends Way Ballpark with commanding wins over SUNY Geneseo (11-0) and the University of Rutgers-Newark (5-0). Messiah's bats were hot in both games as they out-hit their opponents 20-6 and outscored them 16-0. Junior
Jocelyn Hickey and sophomore Sara Dietrich were impressive in the circle, holding the Blue Knights and Scarlet Raiders scoreless, while striking out a combined 11 batters.
“This was an all-around great effort,” head coach
Amy Weaver said. “In the first game, we did a nice job adjusting to all three pitchers. Scoring early is always nice and Steph Schell really got things going for us early on. We ran the bases well and took advantage of their defensive mistakes.”
In the first inning, the Falcons tallied three runs on three hits to take the early lead. The scoring began with a single from sophomore
Sarah Seneca, who put herself in scoring position by stealing second. After a fly out from senior
Abi Buchler and a walk from senior
Ashley Lehman, classmate
Jaclyn Merkel singled to load the bases. A double from junior Steph Schell cleared the bases, for three RBI's and the 3-0 lead.
Messiah's offense continued to surge in the second inning as freshman
Nicole Blantz bunted her way on base and S. Seneca reached on an error. After a double steal that advanced the runners to second and third, the Falcons hoped for a long fly ball to score the runners and add to their lead.
In the next at-bat Buchler drove the ball to center field, but it wasn't deep enough to bring her teammates home. Messiah's second attempt got the job done, when Lehman sent the ball to deep left field for the sacrifice fly, allowing Blantz to score.
With two outs and a runner on third, the Falcons continued their offensive pressure as Merkel walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. In an all-to-familiar scenario, Schell singled to clear the bases once again for her fourth and fifth RBI's of the game.
“Steph (Schell) came up for us big-time,” Weaver said. “Clearing the bases twice in one game is awesome. She really got things going for us on offense.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Falcons shut down numerous scoring opportunities from the Blue Knights.
In the bottom of the second, Hickey conceded back-to-back singles, giving SUNY Geneseo a glimmer of hope to get on the board. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, but Hickey dug deep to strike out the next two batters. The Falcons were almost out-of-the-woods, but a two-out walk loaded the bases. Fortunately, Messiah ended the scoring threat and closed out the inning with a pop-up to S. Seneca behind the plate.
Through the next three innings, both teams struggled to score runs with the Falcons leaving four runners on base to the Blue Knights' three.
In the sixth inning –after a SUNY Geneseo pitching change-, Messiah took advantage of several SUNY Geneseo passed balls to score five runs on only one hit for the 11-0, six inning victory.
With the win, Hickey moved to 3-0 on the season with four strike outs and her first shut-out to date.
The second game against the University of Rutgers-Newark was yet another pitching showcase, this time by Dietrich. Facing 22 batters, Dietrich struck out seven and walked only one while never facing more than four batters per inning. She retired all but three batters to earn her first complete-game, no-hit, shut-out of the season.
“Sara (Dietrich) was incredible,” Weaver said. “Her speed and placement are great right now. She has the potential to shut teams down and she did that today.”
Messiah's offense wasn't too shabby either, posting five runs on 11 hits. Unlike their first game, though, the Falcons had five runners on-base and could not score; until the fifth inning.
With two outs, Messiah got down-to-business when Buchler doubled and Lehman followed up with a single. With runners on first and third, Merkel singled to score Buchler and move Lehman to second. After an error by the second baseman, Schell was safe at first and the bases were loaded. Dietrich's patient at-bat earned a walk and the resulting RBI, yet the next batter would break things wide-open.
With bases loaded and two-outs, sophomore
Lauren Smith stepped in for a pinch-hit double to clear the bases and take the 5-0 lead.
“[Lauren] Smith's double in the fifth really sealed the deal,” Weaver said. “It was great to be up by one or two at that point, but tacking on three more runs made things a bit more comfortable.”
Dietrich took the reins in the sixth and seventh, striking out three of seven batters faced and allowing only one walk.
“We did a great job adjusting to the speed of the pitcher this game and we came up with some really great defensive plays, too,” Weaver said. “We played well and we played as a team.”
The Falcons return to action tomorrow when they take on Monmouth College at 1:00 p.m. and Salve Regina University at 3:00 p.m.
