Fort Pierce FL - On Monday the Falcons opened their annual spring trip to Florida with a double-header split with the Albright Lions in their first Commonwealth Conference games of the season. The Falcons took game one 4-3 behind a complete game from Steven Ridings, but the bats went quiet in game two and the Falcons fell 7-3.

Game One
In game one the Falcons used a strong pitching performance and strong base running to defeat the Albright Lions. As mentioned Ridings went the distance allowing just four hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out seven Albright hitters.
 
Ridings got off to a very strong start, keeping the Lions off the bases until the bottom of the fifth.  After striking out the leadoff hitter, Ridings allowed a one-out double by Albright centerfielder Max Dunbore. Dunbore would advance to third on a groundout before scoring on a wild pitch to make the score 3-1.
 
Ridings would work out of jams in the sixth and seventh allowing just a single run in each frame. In both innings Albright had two runners on and no outs, but Ridings and the Falcons' defense limited the damage to just a single run in each of the final three frames.
 
At the plate, the Falcons collected nine hits and stole seven bases while scoring four runs. After going down quietly in the first three innings, the Falcons would get on the board in the top of the fourth. Joseph Saufley and Josh Good led off the innings with back-to-back singles before Derek Drake grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Saufley to advance to third. A wild pitch in the next at bat would permit Saufley to score and put the Falcons on the board.
 
Adam Janney would single home Drake from second and a John Griffitts sacrifice fly would score Jon Heisey to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead after four innings.

After Albright scored in the bottom of the fifth, the Falcons would get the run right back by executing a perfect first and third play. The play allowed Griffitts to steal home after he reached on an error earlier in the inning.
 
Despite leaving 10 runners on base (against Albright's three), the Falcons claimed the 4-3 victory in the front end of the twin bill.
 
Game Two
In game two the Falcons' bats went quiet and the Lions used a big fifth inning to take a 7-3 victory.
 
After neither team could push a run across in the first two frames, the Lions struck first in the bottom of the third, scoring an unearned run on a fielder's choice. However, the Falcons would answer right back with two runs in the top of the forth to take the lead. Derek Drake reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Saufley to tie the game. Two batters later the Falcons execuated their second first and third play of the day as Drake stole second while Josh Good pilfered home to give Messiah a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Falcons would tack on a third run just an inning later when Saufley collected his fourth hit of the day on a triple smoked to deep center that allowed Zach Brubaker to trot home.
 
With the Falcons holding a 3-1 lead, the Lions would pounce with a five-run inning the take a commanding lead. The big blow of the inning came on a two-run double off the bat of Dylan Boll to right field that gave the Lions a 4-3 lead.
 
The Lions would add an insurance run in the sixth on an RBI single, and dispite getting their first two runners on in the seventh inning the Falcons would fall to the Lions by a final of 7-3.
 
While John Griffitts pitched a solid 4 1/3 innings for the Falcons he is saddled with the loss while allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks.
 
Joseph Saufley led the Falcons' offense on the day with a 4-8 effort at the plate including two runs scored and a run batted in.
 
The Falcons and Lions will complete their three game series Tuesday night in Fort Pierce, Fla. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.