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XML Box Score 2 Grantham, PA - Messiah College defeated Stevenson University twice on Thursday, winning by scores of 2-0 and 8-0 to sweep a double-header. In Game One the Falcons scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to account for a 2-0 final and then they exploded for eight runs in just five innings to win the shortened Game Two.
Game OneOffensive production was at a minimum through three innings of play as neither team could muster more than one hit in any given inning. In the bottom of the fourth, the Falcons had the bases loaded and only one out, but were unable to push a run across the plate.
Their breakout moment came in the bottom of the sixth when
Amanda Jones led off with a single – her third hit of the game – and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Courtney Allen. In the next at-bat,
Becky Notte drove the ball down the left field line and as the ball made its way back to the infield, she broke for second. The Mustangs' attention moved to Notte, who got into a rundown, allowing Jones to score. Notte was out on the play.
With two outs
Katie Tankred kept the Falcons' offense alive with a single down the left field line. She moved onto second when Stevenson's catcher tried to pick her off at first, but the throw sailed into right field. In the next at-bat,
Krista Ammon singled up the middle, but another Mustangs miscue, this time by the centerfielder allowed Tankred to score.
Once the dust settled, the Falcons had scored runs on four hits and two errors.
In the top of the seventh, Messiah's pitcher
Mallory Rutledge, who had complete command of the entire game, retired the side with a strikeout and two pop ups.
With the win, Rutledge moved to 11-5 overall and picked up third complete game shutout of the season. She allowed only four hits, walked one, and struck-out four.
Amanda Jones led the Falcons' offense, going 3-3 with a double.
Game TwoThe Mustangs came out swinging, quite literally, in the first inning. After getting two hits, Stevenson advanced their runners on a double steal. With runners on second and third, the Falcons' pitcher,
Claressa Mees, worked out of the jam, ending the inning on a strikeout and a ground out.
The Falcons matched the Mustangs' efforts in the bottom of the inning, but with more positive results.
Amanda Jones got things going offensively with a single and moved into scoring position after stealing second.
Courtney Allen followed with an RBI single up the middle, giving Messiah the early 1-0 lead.
Stevenson looked to their second pitcher, Briana Pichalski, but the change wasn't in their favor. The Falcons tagged Pichalski with six hits, extending their lead to 5-0. Allen (double), Ammon (single), and Mees (single) each picked up an RBI.
In the top of the fourth, Stevenson used a single through the left side and a spinner off of the very end of the bat to put runners on first and second yet the Falcons' defense neutralized any additional offensive threats. In the next two plays, Messiah's middle infielders made head's up plays to get the lead runner and middle runner out, respectively. The third and final out of the inning came on a line drive directly back to Mees, who fielded it with ease.
The Falcons tacked on two more runs off of Stevenson's third and final pitcher, Molly Hoyt. Despite Hoyt's best efforts, a single by
Courtney Allen and two defensive errors loaded the bases for the Falcons. Back-to-back walks brought both runs in before
Nicole Blantz grounded out to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth Mees was relieved by
Sara McKee, who was tested immediately. After an error put the leadoff batter on first, McKee walked the next batter and quickly found herself with runners on second and third due to a sacrifice bunt. Hoyt's stress level increased when she walked the next batter to load the bases. Fortunately for the Falcons, Hoyt has nerves of steel, getting the next two batters to pop up and ground out, respectively, to end the inning and maintain the shutout.
The Falcons completed the win in the bottom of the fifth when Jones reached on an error by the short stop and was followed by Allen's double down the right field line. Jones motored around the bases to score all the way from first base, while Allen got caught attempting to stretch her double into a triple to end the inning.
Allen finished the game with three RBI's and was 4-4 with a double. She also scored two runs.
Nicole Blantz (2-3) had a good day at the plate, while Ammon (1-3), Tankred (0-2), and
Claressa Mees (1-2, 2 RBI) each added RBI's.
From the circle, Mees picked up her ninth win by allowing only four hits. In four innings of work, she struck-out one and walked one.
Sara McKee threw one inning and walked two batters.
Messiah moved to 21-7 overall and 10-2 in the Commonwealth with the wins. The Falcons return to action Saturday when they travel to Hood College. The Commonwealth double header is set to begin at 12 p.m.
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