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Grantham, PA - Sophomore catcher
Sarah Seneca went 3-4 from the plate on Tuesday, collecting a leadoff triple and the game's first run as Messiah College defeated Lebanon Valley College 7-2.
The Falcons' game with the Dutchmen was a make-up from a postponement on March 20. With the win, the Falcons improve to 19-6 overall, including 4-0 in the Commonwealth Conference.
As has been their trend lately, the Falcons got off to a hot start. After Seneca tripled to start the bottom of the first inning, freshman
Nicole Blantz singled on a bunt to LVC pitcher Kristen Palmerio. A walk to sophomore
Krista Ammon loaded the bases, with senior
Jaclyn Merkel and junior
Stephanie Schell knocking back-to-back singles to put the Falcons on the scoreboard. Schell's single to center accounted for two RBI after Merkel had plated a single run.
With the Falcons leading 3-0, pitcher Sara Dietrich reached base by way of a bunt before Merkel scored the fourth run by way of an error on
Lauren Seneca's grounder to second base.
Messiah and LVC would trade runs in the second inning, with Messiah taking a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth. In that frame,
Sarah Seneca singled to and stole second, moving to third base on a passed ball. She would later score on a sac fly by Merkel.
Dietrich would be in full command on the mound for the Falcons through five innings, running into trouble only late in the game. She would allow a pair of hits in the sixth inning for the Dutchmen's second run, before limiting damage in LVC's final at-bat.
In that final frame-- the top of the seventh inning-- Dietrich would allow LVC to load the bases after striking out the leadoff hitter. With one out and the bags full, Dietrich would strike out Mary Readinger looking and get a groundout to the shortstop for the final out.
Dietrich would finish with seven innings to her credit, allowing eleven hits and two earned runs. She walked four batters and struck out three others-- including two in her final inning of work.
Of Messiah's nine hits, three were triples by
Sarah Seneca (2) and Merkel (1). The heart of the order came through in a big way for the Falcons, with Merkel, Schell, and pinch-hitter
Lauren Smith combining for five RBI. Meanwhile, the Falcons managed to limit the Dutchmen's best hitter, sophomore Allie Hartman, to only one hit in four at-bats. Hartman entered the game leading LVC with six home runs, 19 RBI, and a .712 slugging percentage.
Messiah will having a day off on Wednesday of this week before hosting Lycoming College in a Commonwealth double-header on Thursday, April 5. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
