Alvernia Box Score  I  Stevenson Box Score

Annville, PA - The Messiah College softball team's season came to an end Friday as they became the second team - No. 4 Hood College was the first - to be eliminated from the Commonwealth Championships at Lebanon Valley College.  The No. 3 Falcons (25-15) found themselves in unusual territory - the consolation bracket - after an 8-2 loss to No. 2 Alvernia University (37-4) in their opening game.  A game one loss hasn't occurred for Messiah since 2008 when the Falcons dropped a 9-0 decision to Lebanon Valley College.  In a tight second game with No. 5 Stevenson University (20-20), both teams scored single runs early in the game but couldn't string together enough offense to pull ahead.  After five innings of scoreless play, the Mustangs hit two doubles in the top of the ninth to take the lead 2-1 and claim the victory.

Game One vs. Alvernia University

The Falcons dropped their opening game of the Commonwealth Conference Championships, 8-2 to Alvernia University.  The Crusaders' bats were on fire Friday afternoon as they accumulated eight hits off of three different Messiah pitchers. 

Alvernia took an early 6-0 lead courtesy of a two-run homerun from Amanda Galanti and a three-run homerun from Shannon Grim.  Extra base hits by Danielle Kitchen and Miranda Peto helped the Crusaders add two more runs enroute to the win. 

The Falcons scored two runs on five htis, posting single runs in the fourth and seventh innings.  An RBI double by Sarah Dietrich pushed Messiah's first run across the plate, while Nicole Blantz roped a single to right center for the second run of the game.

Mallory Rutledge (11-7) started on the mound for the Falcons, but was replaced by Claressa Mees in the third after giving up five runs on three hits.  Mees, who inherited two outs and two base-runners, gave up Grim's three-run homerun before closing out the inning.  The Falcons looked to closer Sarah Dietrich in the top of the fourth to stop the Crusaders' offensive power.  In three innings of work, Dietrich allowed two runs on three hits.

Despite the 8-2 result, the Falcons came up with several impressive defensive plays. 

In the bottom of the second, Alvernia's Felicia McKenna drove the ball deep to center field.  As the wind carried the ball closer and closer to the fence, Commonwealth Player of the Year Stephanie Schell tracked the ball and at the last possible second extended her glove for an amazing over-the-shoulder catch.  Sarah Dietrich took an extra base hit away from the Crusaders in the bottom of the third when she slid through a blooper in left field to keep the ball from scooting through to the fence.  In the bottom of the fourth, Madelyn Coffey got a late jump on a well-hit ball to center field but a last-ditch effort and full extension over her head ending the inning.

The Falcons will attempt to stay alive in the double-elimination championship when they take on #5 Stevenson University at 4:00 p.m.  The Mustands are coming off of a 5-1 tournament win over #4 Hood College.



Game Two vs. Stevenson University

Messiah managed only four hits in their 2-1, extra-inning loss to Stevenson University Friday evening.  In the second game of the day for both teams, the Mustangs took advantage of a throwing error by the Falcons to eventually score the first run of the game.  Messiah answered in the bottom of the third when Courtney Allen stretched a single into a double and Sarah Dietrich drove her in on a triple to right center. 

The game remained knotted 1-1 until the Mustangs broke the tie, scoring a single run in the top of the ninth.

Starting pitcher Mallory Rutledge (11-8) threw 8.1 innings and gave up two runs on five hits.  She struck out five.  Sarah Dietrich came into the game in the top of the ninth to face only three batters, giving up one hit.

Offensively, Courtney Allen was the only Falcon to get two hits while Sarah Dietrich's triple drove in the lone run for Messiah.

Despite their early exit from the Commonwealth Championships, the Falcons should hold their heads high.  As a relatively young team - more than half the squad are freshmen - Messiah finished with an 11-7 record in the conference and 25-15 overall.  Their tremendous play was recently honored when seven different players were named All-Commonwealth.  Stephanie Schell led the way by being named the Commonwealth's Player of the Year.

 

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