Box Score Game 1 |
Box Score Game 2
by Zach Specht, GoMessiah.com reporter
Grantham, PA -
Jacob Sprengle hit a walk-off, three-run home run down the rightfield line to send Messiah College to a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over Stevenson University on Saturday. The junior's first homerun of the season capped a four-run bottom of the seventh for the Falcons as they fought all the way back from a 4-0 deficit.
Stevenson went to work early as the Mustangs tallied two runs in the top of the first inning courtesy of two Falcons' errors. Both of Stevenson's runs were unearned as the Mustangs took an early 2-0 lead after one inning of play.
The Mustangs would utilize a productive sixth inning to build their lead late in the game. In the top of the sixth inning, Bret Schilling blasted a home run to deep right field to give Stevenson a 4-0 advantage.
In the home stretch of the sixth inning, the Falcons would defrost their frozen bats to generate a comeback. With
Paul Mellinger on second and
Zach Brubaker on first,
Derek Drake had a 2 RBI double to left field to carve into the Mustangs lead.
Ben Sollenberger would give Messiah one more run in the bottom of the sixth as he connected on an RBI single through the left side.
With Stevenson on top 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, it was rally time for the Falcons.
Jon Lapp would get Messiah started with a leadoff double and would advance to third after a
Jeremiah Eaton single. Brubaker brought Lapp home via a RBI single to bring the Falcons within one.
After the Brubaker singled, Stevenson would counter by calling in Tim Davis to relieve starting pitcher Brooks Miller.
With a new pitcher on the mound and down by one run, Sprengle moved into the box for the Falcons. Sprengle fought off a couple pitches before taking Davis yard as he unloaded for a walk-off, three run home run for the Falcons.
Prior to the sixth inning, Messiah registered just one hit in the game's first five innings however the Falcons finished with eight hits in the stellar, come-from-behind victory.
Game One
Steven Riding took a hard-luck loss on Saturday as he completed eight innings and allowed just a single earned run in Messiah's 2-1 loss to Stevenson. Ridings gave up an unearned score in the third inning but could not keep the Mustangs off the board later in the game as they rebounded from Friday's loss to the Falcons with the victory.
Messiah scored a run in the fourth inning by way of a sac fly by
Mellinger, but could not capitalize on later chances to add runs to the board.
The split of Saturday's double-header gives Messiah the series win over Stevenson this weekend.
Messiah moves to 10-8 in the Commonwealth as they continue to battle for fourth place in the conference.
The Falcons will look to stay in the win column when they travel to Susquehanna University on Tuesday, Apr 23. The first pitch between the Falcons and Crusaders is scheduled for 4 p.m.
BB: Sprengle's Walk-Off Beats Mustangs Gallery
