XML Box Score by Michael Brookhart, GoMessiah.com reporter
Ewing, NJ - On the road for a single game in the all-too-familiar cold, the Falcons found themselves knotted with the Lions of TCNJ after nine innings of regulation. Three innings of extra baseball later, the Falcons collected their thirteenth victory of the year by a score of 3-2 thanks to a RBI sac fly by David Sletta in the top of the 12th inning.
Pitching played a vital role for the Falcons as Russell Woleslagel, Peter Fisher, and Paul Broomell collaborated to scatter ten hits for two runs (one earned) in twelve innings of effective work.
After three frames of play the Falcons found themselves trailing 2-0. TCNJ tallied a sole run in each the second and third innings. However, in the third, the damage could have been much worse. With the score 1-0 starter, Woleslagel was in a jam with two Lions in scoring position with none away. To make matters worse, the next batter singled to center. Thankfully, center fielder Andrew Eyster gunned out the second Lion attempting to score with a frozen rope to John Mullin behind the dish. Woleslagel retired the next two batters to shut down the threat.
Messiah did not relinquish the momentum and earned some runs of their own in the top of the fourth. Derek Drake reached base on a hit-by-pitch. After a wild-pitch and a Jacob Sprengle single, Josh Good brought in Drake for the Falcons first run of the game courtesy of a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Two innings later, the Falcons tied the contest with Good collecting his second clutch RBI of the day-- this time scoring pinch-hitter John Griffitts with a double.
With the score at two a piece, Lightle handed the ball to the bullpen. From there, Fisher and Broomell were lights out over the final seven innings. The same goes to the TCNJ bullpen as the Falcons and Lions traded zeroes on the scoreboard until the top of the 12th.
Sprengle started the inning with a single and Steven Nicolais followed by laying down a sacrifice bunt. His hustle down the line forced an errant throw from the catcher, which resulted in Sprengle standing on third and Nicolais on second. Playing great situational baseball, David Sletta drove a ball deep enough to centerfield allowing Sprengle to cross the plate on the sacrifice fly.
The Falcons were unable to manufacture any more runs in the inning, but none would be necessary as Broomell ended his successful day and collected the win with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the frame.
Messiah will have little time to celebrate as they will return to Grantham tomorrow (Apr. 17) for a battle against Commonwealth opponent Stevenson University.
