XML Box Score New Market, VA – Usually, birds fly south to avoid the winter. These days, so are the Falcons.
Despite relocating a scheduled home game with Fitchburg State to New Market, Va., Messiah College was unable to capitalize on an early score and lost 11-5. The two teams—both named after Falcons— decided to play the game in Va. because Messiah's field is still covered with snow from the oppressive winter weather.
Messiah got off to a good start with a two-out rally in the first inning. With no one on base
Derek Drake started the rally with a single and
Ben Sollenberger then reached on an error by the centerfielder; Drake came all the way around from first to score on the dropped ball while Sollenberger reached third.
Jacob Sprengle flied out to end inning, but Messiah held a 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately, the Falcons gave back the lead and more in the top of the second. A one-out walk by pitcher
Adam Marshall was followed up six consecutive singles, the last of which plated the last two of five runs. Marshall then walked another batter—the eighth-straight batter to reach base—but escaped further damage by inducing a lineout and groundout to end the inning.
Fitchburg added earned runs in the fourth (RBI single), sixth (two-run homerun), and eighth (RBI double) to increase their lead as they went on to the win. Messiah's second run came in the seventh on a two-out double by
Casey Ebersole that scored
Jon Heisey.
Josh Good hit a solo shot in the eighth inning for Messiah's first homerun of the season, and
Jon Lapp and Steven Nicholias each hit sac flies later in the inning to complete the scoring.
Marshall finished three innings and allowed all five earned runs on seven hits.
Tyler Moody relieved Marshall for 2.1 innings and allowed three more runs on five hits.
Mitch McClure (0.2 innings) and
Colby Helgerson (3.0 innings, 3 earned runs) combined to finish the game.
Joe St. Hilaire completed seven strong innings for Fitchburg and allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out five batters and walked three others.
Messiah fell to 1-2 with the loss and will need to rearrange next week's home games with Franklin & Marshall, Lancaster Bible, and SUNY Oneonta to determine when they will next play.
