Box Score Game One I
Box Score Game Two
Annville, PA - Lebanon Valley scored two runs in the first inning to take a quick lead on the Falcons, and added seven runs in the final three innings to finish with a 9-1, six-inning win in Game One of the teams' double-header.
Claressa Mees (7-2) started for the Falcons but lasted just 3.1 innings. She allowed seven hits and seven runs (three earned) against three strikeouts.
Sarah Dietrich and
Jayme Babczak combined to allow four more runs (two earned) to score for LVC.
Courtney Allen and
Brooke Pompeo each collected two hits for Messiah in the loss.
The Falcons (16-10, 6-4) were held scoreless through five innings of play in Game Two, posting runs in the sixth inning only. Those three runs were unfortunately too few and too late, as the Dutchmen scored a total of six runs through five innings.
Mallory Rutledge (7-4) went the distance for the Falcons, taking the 6-3 loss.
In Game One, Lebanon Valley's (19-3, 8-0) starting pitcher, Sam Derr - a transfer from Kutztown University, shutdown the Falcons' offense. Derr allowed only five hits and held the Falcons scoreless through five of six inning played.
The Falcons sole run came in the third inning, after finding themselves with a two run deficit. Lead-off,
Courtney Allen singled to right center and moved to second on a sacrifice by
Nicole Blantz. In the next at-bat,
Brooke Pompeo singled, moving Allen onto third. A ground out by
Becky Notte was enough to push Allen across the plate and bring the Falcons within one run of the Dutchmen.
Lebanon Valley busted things open in the bottom of the inning by scoring five runs. After a string of singles led to two runs,
Sarah Dietrich entered the game in relief of Mees. With bases loaded and two outs, Dietrich went to work and struck out the first batter she faced, but subsequent walks and an error gave way to three additional Dutchmen runs.
After Lebanon Valley added another run in the bottom of the fifth, the Falcons best chance of scoring came in the top of the sixth. Allen and Pompeo singled and with two outs, Notte was hit by a pitch to load the bases and set things up for
Katie Souders. Souders, whose leading the team with 27 RBI's, couldn't convert and grounded out to end the inning.
With a seven run lead, the Dutchmen needed only one run to end the game in six innings. With
Jayme Babczak on the mound, Lebanon Valley managed three hits to score the game-ending run.
In Game Two, the Falcons turned to right-hander
Mallory Rutledge. After both teams were retired in order in the first, the Dutchmen scored in the bottom of the second. Rutledge gave up two hits, but a defensive error helped Lebanon Valley take the early lead.
The Dutchmen added to their lead in both the fourth and fifth innings. Steffani Secola's two-run homerun in the bottom of the fourth put Lebanon Valley ahead by three runs, but it was a two singles and a triple that scored three more Dutchmen runs in the fifth.
With a six run deficit, the Falcons dug deep in the top of the sixth to post three runs on three hits. Singles by Pompeo, Notte, and
Stephanie Schell and a critical Dutchmen error allowed Messiah to cut their deficit in half.
After retiring the Dutchmen in order in the bottom of the inning, the Falcons came up empty in the top of the seventh. A walk by Dietrich and single by Blantz weren't enough to mount a come-from-behind victory.
Despite the fact that both teams accumulated nine hits, the Dutchmen's extra-base hits made the difference.
With the 6-3 loss, the Falcons move to 6-4 in the Conference and 16-10 overall. Lebanon Valley remains undefeated in the conference at 8-0 and 19-3 overall.
Messiah looks to bounce back on Tuesday when they travel to Dickinson College to take on the Red Devils. The evening double-header is set to begin at 5:00 p.m.
