Grantham, PA - The Messiah Falcons and Arcadia Knights split Monday's double-header. Arcadia took game one 9-2 while the Falcons won game two 5-4.
Game OneThe Messiah Falcons dropped game one of Monday's double-header against the Arcadia Knights 9-2. The Falcons were outhit by only one, 8-7, but four errors plagued the Falcons in the loss.
After the Knights went down quietly in the first, the Falcons threated to get on the board first after two walks put runners on first and second with one out. Unfortunately a double play ended the inning and the threat.
In the second, Alvernia got on the board first with a one-out walk and double down the left field line. Later with two-outs the Falcons miscommunicated on a pop-up allowing it to drop and for the inning to extend. Arcadia made the most of the opportunity, scoring three more runs in the frame and taking a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second,
Jon Heisey led off the inning with a double down the right field line and
Adam Janney brought him home with a single through the left side.
The Knights added to their lead with single run in the third and four more in the fifth while the Flacons could only counter with one run in the fourth on an
Zach Brubaker single to left. The Falcons would drop game one by a score of 9-2.
Zach Luman was given the loss going four innings while allowing eight hits and eight runs.
Tyler Moody and
Peter Fisher combined to give the Falcons three innings of scoreless relief.
Jon Heisey (2-2) and
Adam Janney (2-3) recorded the only multi-hit games for the Falcons. Both Janey and Heisey collected a double and scored a run and Janney also drove home a run.
Game TwoIn game two,
David Nicolais toed the slab for the Falcons and gave Messiah 5 1/3 innings solid innings of work. It was Nicolais' first start and the lefty earned the much needed Messiah win.
The Falcons got off to a quality start scoring runs in the second, third, and forth to open a 5-0 lead. However it wasn't all smooth sailing for Messiah as Arcadia battled back in the sixth scoring four runs (two earned) on three hits to pull to within one, but it wasn't enough as the Falcons shut the Knights down in the top of the seventh to earn the 5-4 victory.
After the Knights and Falcons traded zeros in the first innings, the Falcons struck first in the home half of the second. A double, walk, and single loaded the bases for
Steven Nicolais who drew a walk and brought home the first run.
Zach Brubaker then followed with a groundball to second that made the score 2-0 after two innings.
In the third,
Jon Heisey drove home
Adam Janney after Janney doubled to begin the inning. In his next at bat, just a frame later, Janney doubled down the left field line to bring
Jon Mullin and Brubaker home giving the Falcons a 5-0 advantage.
As mentioned the Knights didn't go down quietly. Arcadia's Andonis Yiantsos led off the top of the sixth with his first career home run to deep right field. The Knights crossed the plate three more times in the inning with one run scoring on an RBI single, another on a Messiah error, and another on a first and third play where Messiah took the out at first allowing the run to score.
After the Falcons went down quietly in the bottom of the sixth,
John Griffitts sat the Knights down in order to secure the win. The final out cam on an emphatic strike out, giving the Falcons a 5-4 victory.
As mentioned,
David Nicolais earned the win - his first career victory - and Griffitts, who worked 1 2/3 innings, was awarded his second save of the season.
Adam Janney led the Falcons in game two with a 2-3 effort while scoring a run and driving in two, both of his hits were doubles.
On the day,
Jon Heisey,
Adam Janney, and
Zach Brubaker combined to go 9-16 at the plate with six runs batted in, four runs scored, a stolen base, and four doubles. The rest of the Falcons collected just four hits between the two games.
The Falcons will next take the field on Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference game against the Shendoah Hornets in Grantham, game time is set for 4:00 p.m.
