XML Box Score Rochester, NY - The Messiah College softball team dropped their opening game of the NCAA Regional in Rochester Friday afternoon. After falling behind 3-0 after just the second inning, the Falcons were unable to overcome the early deficit eventually losing 4-1 to the No. 2 Saxons of Alfred University (28-10).
The No. 3 Falcons (28-10) were unable to master the Saxons' ace Alison Wickwire (4 SO, 2 BB), as she held them to only four hits on the day. It took Messiah until the top of the fourth to get their first hit, which came off the bat of
Courtney Allen. Allen worked the at-bat to a full count then drove the ball to right for a single.
Allen gave the Falcons their second hit of the game in the sixth inning with a two-out single up the middle.
The Saxons jumped out early against Messiah's starter
Mallory Rutledge. In the bottom of the second, their leadoff batter was hit by a pitch then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. In the next at-bat Jasmine Picini roped a double over the head of Allen in center field, scoring the game's first run.
Two more hits and a sacrifice bunt would bring in two more runs for the Saxons and put the pressure on the Falcons.
In the bottom of the third, Dana Torchia's leadoff double took Rutledge out of the game. After two innings of work (12 batters faced), Rutledge gave up three earned runs on four hits.
Claressa Mees took Rutledge's place in the pitching circle and held the Saxons to only two hits through the remainder of the game. They posted an additional run in the bottom of the fifth on a double by Liz Thompson and then three straight groundouts.
The Falcons rallied in the top of the seventh, though, posting a single run on two hits. Back-to-back singles from
Krista Ammon and
Nicole Blantz set the stage for
Emily Quatrale who reached on a fielder's choice to short, allowing Ammon to score on the play.
Rutledge was charged with the loss and moves to 14-7 on the year, while the win goes to Wickmire (14-5).
With the 4-1 loss, the Falcons move into the consolation games in the double-elimination tournament. They will play the winner of No. 1 Rochester and No. 4 Marywood University at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
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