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XML Box Score 2 York, PA - The Falcons dropped two close games on Friday and were eliminated from the Commonwealth Championships Tournament. The losses also ended Messiah's season short of their third conference title in the past four seasons.
Game One - Widener 7, Messiah 5Messiah College fell behind 6-2 to No. 1 Widener University but rallied to make it 6-5 before losing 7-5 Friday afternoon in the Commonwealth Championships Tournament.
The Falcons got off to a promising start with two runs in their first at-bat.
Jacob Sprengle provided the two-run hit to score
Derek Drake and
Zach Brubaker. Unfortunately the Pride answered back immediately with three runs in the bottom half against starter
Jon Lapp. Two of the runs were unearend due to a throwing error by Brubaker.
The game remained 3-2 until the fifth when Lapp allowed three more run-scoring hits that put Widener up 6-2. The Pride collected four hits total in the frame, including a RBI triple before an out was recorded.
In the seventh the Falcons rallied furiously and came within 6-5
. Jon Heisey (single) and Brubaker (two-run single) provided the big hits, though Brubaker was stranded at second to end the inning.
In the eighth another error doomed the Falcons' chances at coming back. With a runner on first and no one out Widener bunted and an out was recorded at first; unfortunately Brubaker's throw from first to nab the runner off second went awry and the run came home.
Lapp took the loss after completing five innings with eight hits, six runs (four earned) and a walk charged against him. He struck out three batters.
Derek Drake and
Jacob Sprengle each collected two hits.
Game Two - Alvernia 5, Messiah 4Messiah took a 1-0 lead against Alvernia in the second inning thanks to a sac fly from
Jon Mullin. But like the first game of the day, Messiah gave the lead back immediately. With runners on second and third and one out in the bottom half of the second Alvernia collected two RBI singles that put them in front.
The Crusaders added to their lead in the third when six of their first seven batters reached base. With one out Alvernia collected three-straight RBI hits, including two doubles, that made it 5-1.
Mitch McClure relieved
Evan Young after the last of those runs scored and loaded the bases before getting out of the frame.
The game remained 5-1 until the sixth when the Falcons put together a rally of their own. With two on and no one out
Jacob Sprengle doubled down the right field line to make it 5-2. Ebersole then reached on a sharp grounder through third to bring in another run, and Sprengle soon scored on a bad pickoff attempt to make it 5-4. But the Falcons made three-straight outs to strand Ebersole at second, ending the threat.
Unfortunately, Messiah would not be able to even the score as the Crusaders' bullpen struck out six of the nine Falcons they faced to preserve the 5-4 win.
Drake, Sprengle, and Ebersole each collected two hits but no other player collected a hit or a walk.
The loss ended the Falcons season with Alvernia moving into Saturday's Championship game with Widener. The Pride are still without a loss this weekend meaning Alvernia needs to win twice without losing to finish on top; Widener needs only to win one game.
Messiah finished the season at 16-19.
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