Owings Mills, MD - The Messiah Falcons scored in each of the first three innings but the Stevenson Mustangs scored four runs in both the second and seventh innings and took game one of the three-game series by a final score of 8-5.
The Falcons had opportunities throughout the game; leaving 10 runners on base, seven of them in scoring position.
As mentioned the Falcons struck first with a run in the first inning.
Adam Janney led off the game with a double to center field before
Joseph Saufley brought him home as he singled to right field.
After Falcons' starter
Brandon Shirk shut down the Mustangs in the bottom of the first. Messiah added another run on a
John Griffitts' single up the middle that scored
Jon Mullin from second.
The two-run lead would not last long as the Mustangs scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the second. Highlighting the Stevenson four-run inning was an RBI triple by Matt Myers that scored the first run of the game for the Mustangs.
With the Mustangs now leading 4-2, the Falcons added to their picket fence on the scoreboard with another run in the top of the third. The Falcons drew back-to-back walks with one-out before
Jon Heisey collected an infield single that scored Saufley from second.
In the fifth the Falcons tied the game with yet another run when
Jon Mullin attempted to sacrifice himself. However the Mustangs' pitcher threw the ball away and allowed Saufley to score and unearned run.
The score remained tied 4-4 until the bottom of the seventh. The Mustangs loaded the bases with no outs on a double, a single, and a hit by pitch. Then with one out Troy Miller singled to center field that allowed two runs to score. Stevenson added two more runs on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to take an 8-4 lead.
The Falcons would fight back and score another single run in the eighth on a
Derek Drake double to left center, but it wasn't enough, as the Falcons would fall 8-5.
Joseph Saufley (2-4) was the lone Falcon with two hits in the game. He also scored twice and drove in a run.
Adam Janney (2-1) did walk three times and was on base four different times.
The Falcons will play tomorrow afternoon when the Mustangs travel to Grantham to complete the three-game series. The double-header will begin at 12:00 p.m.
