Box Score
by Zach Specht, GoMessiah.com reporter
Reading, PA - Desperately needing a win in the first of a three-game conference series with the Alvernia University Crusaders (9-6, 2-2), the Messiah Falcons (3-8, 1-0) produced for a season-high 10 hits. Six different players registered hits while the Falcons exhibited a balanced attack en route to a thrilling 7-6 victory.
Once again, Messiah generated first inning success to produce early runs in the matchup. The Falcons capitalized on two first inning errors as
Zach Brubaker reached base on a throwing error and
Casey Ebersole arrived at first by way of a fielding error.
Ben Sollenberger delivered for the Falcons with a sac fly that would bring Brubaker home and put the Falcons on the board. The Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the first frame without registering a hit.
After falling down early, the Crusaders would battle back in the bottom of the first to grasp the lead. Leon Stimpson would connect on a leadoff homer for the Crusaders and Brian Witkowski would later score on a wild pitch to give Alvernia a 2-1 lead after one inning.
Messiah would regain the lead in the third inning on a flurry of offense. Brubaker would get the Falcons with a home run down the left field line.
Derek Drake would bring
Paul Mellinger and Ebersole with a single to center and give the Falcons a 4-2 lead.
The Falcons would continue to apply more pressure in the fifth inning. Ebersole connected on a homer to left center and Drake sent a single up the middle to bring
Jeremiah Eaton home and give Messiah a 6-2 lead.
As they did all afternoon, Alvernia would fight their way back into the ball game. Matt Patterson would deliver a single to center field and score Stimpson. Billy Turner would keep the Crusaders' offense rolling with a double that would score Patterson and cut the Falcons' lead to 6-4.
Sollenberger would tag up on a sac fly from
Jacob Sprengle in the eighth inning to give the Falcons a 7-4 lead.
Alvernia would piece together a two-run ninth inning courtesy of another Stimpson home run, however the Crusaders' comeback attempt would fall short as Messiah would win the contest 7-6.
Falcons' ace
Jon Lapp went seven innings allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts to earn his first win of the season.
Brubaker and Ebersole combined to go 5-for-9 with two home runs and two RBI's.
Derek Drake contributed to the action going two-of-four with three RBI's.
The Falcons and Crusaders will square off tomorrow for a double-header at Starry Field with the first pitch schedule for 12 p.m.
