Box Score
by Zach Specht, GoMessiah.com reporter
Grantham, PA- No. 25 Shenandoah tallied five runs on three hits in the first inning to build a lead which the Hornets would not relinquish on Tuesday afternoon.
After Paul Broomell walked the first two Shenandoah batters, Corbin Lucas and Daniel Freshley each connected on doubles to drive in a pair of runs.
Casey Ebersole would answer for the Falcons in the home half of the first inning where he drove in Zach Brubaker on a single to right field.
Broomel was relieved by teammate Mitch McClure atop the second inning where the Falcons would then rely on their bullpen for much of the afternoon.
Shenandoah would continue to add to their early lead in the top of the fifth inning. To start the inning,
Adam Marshall got the call from the bullpen to relieve McClure on the mound.
The Hornets would respond with a leadoff triple as Lucas took Marshall for a ride down the right field line. Dan Powers would then single to right field, allowing Lucas to score with ease and give the Hornets a 7-1 lead.
Jon Heisey would cross home plate for the Falcons in the bottom of the fifth inning via a fielder's choice to cut Shenandoah's lead to 7-2.
Shenandoah proved to be opportunistic in the seventh inning, as the Hornets converted a Falcons' error into a leadoff base runner. An error by
Jacob Sprengle at first base allowed Michael Paul to safely reach first. Paul and fellow Hornet Andrew Creamer would eventually score off of another double by Freshley.
With the score 9-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Ben Sollenberger would score the Falcons' final run of the afternoon on a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Jordan Seltzer.
Billy Arens paved the way for Shenandoah as he allowed the three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and one walk while striking out seven in 8 1/3 innings. The Hornets were led by the bat of Freshley who went 3 for 4 on the afternoon including four RBI. The win for the Hornets increases its non-conference winning streak to nine games.
The loss for Messiah moves them to 8-17 on the season, including 5-6 in the Commonwealth Conference. They will host Elizabethtown College for a single game on Apr. 12, and then the Falcons will travel to face the Blue Jays in a conference double-header on Apr. 13 at Elizabethtown.
BB: Falcons Stung By Hornets At Home Gallery
