Harrisonburg, VA - The Messiah Falcons finally opened the 2015 season on Monday afternoon when they traveled to Harrisonburg, Va. to take on the Bridgewater Eagles in a neutral site double-header. The Falcons dropped both ends of the twin-bill by scores of 1-0 and 8-5.

Game One
The Falcons fell to the Bridgewater Eagles in a pitcher's duel on Monday afternoon in game one of a double header to open the season. Steven Ridings went five strong innings for the Falcons allowing five base runners and a single run.

Both the Falcons and Eagles went quietly in the first, but the Eagles struck for a run in the second. A leadoff double to right center put the Eagles in scoring position with no one out. The very next batter hit a groundball single that just scooted into the outfield grass. With the runner from second rounding third and heading home, the throw home by shortstop John Griffitts was late and the run scored from second.
 
The two hits to start off the second would be the only two that Falcons' starter Steve Ridings would give up in his five innings of work. Unfortunately for the Falcons and Ridings, the run would be the lone score of the game and Ridings would be saddled with the tough luck loss.
 
While the Falcons would have baserunners in six of their nine trips to the plate they could not push across the tying run. In both the third (Zach Brubaker double) and fifth (John Griffitts triple) the Falcons collected extra base hits with two outs but were unable to bring either runner home.
 
As mentioned Ridings collected the loss, going five innings and allowing just the one run on two hits. Freshman Quinton Kuntz made his Messiah debut on the mound with three solid innings of relief. Kuntz went three innings allowing two hits and no runs.
 
Matching the Falcons pitch for pitch in game one were Ryan Leake and Steven Woerner. Leake started and went six innings allowing four hits while striking out five, earning his second win in as many games for the Eagles. Woerner went the final three innings to earn his first save of the year. Between the two of them, Leake and Woerner forced 16 ground outs against just two fly outs in game one.

Derek Drake collected the lone multi-hit game for the Falcons with a pair of singles.

Game Two
In game two the Falcons found ways to manufacture runs, scoring in four different frames. After Bridgewater used a sacrifice fly and a pair of RBI singles to score three in the first two innings it was the Falcons turn to get on the board. In the top of the fourth Joe Saufley led off the inning with a double to right field. Josh Good and Derek Drake followed with consecutive groundouts to second base to bring Saufley home for the first Falcons' run of the season.
 
The Eagles would get that run right back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring an unearned run on a sacrifice fly. In the top half of the fifth the Falcons would manufacture another run, after John Griffitts singled with one out, Zach Brubaker sacrificed himself to move Griffitts into scoring position. With two outs John Mullin singled through the left side to score the Falcons' second run.
 
After a quick one-two-three inning for Bridgewater, the Falcons threatened in the sixth loading the bases with one out. A inning ending double-play ended the rally and left the deficit at two.
 
With the Falcons still trailing by two the Falcons and Eagles would play their most interesting inning of the afternoon just two innings later. Between the two teams they scored five runs in the seventh inning on only one hit and one error.  In the top of the frame, the Falcons scored twice to tie the game. Once on a wild pitch and the other on a sacrifice bunt.
 
With the score tied the Eagles loaded the bases thanks to two walks and an error. With the bases loaded the Falcons walked in a run to give the lead back to Bridgewater. Then Bridgewater centerfielder, Darren Yoder, extended the lead with the lone hit of the inning, a single through the left side that drove in two Eagles.
 
The Eagles tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, before a Ben Sollenberger sacrifice fly in the ninth capped the scoring at 8-5.
 
Zach Luman started and went 3 1/3 innings for the Falcons allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits. Peter Fisher went 2 2/3 strong innings in relief, allowing just two hits. Brandon Shirk collected the loss allowing three runs (one earned) in 1/3 of an inning, and David Nicolais closed out the game, tossing 1 2/3 innings.
 
Griffitts lead the offense in game two with two runs scored, while going one for three at the plate.