Annville, PA - Messiah College (13-6, 4-0) swept Lebanon Valley College (5-11, 2-4) Thursday afternoon with 9-1 and 10-7 victories over the Dutchmen.

Game One

The Falcons scored seven first inning runs en route to a 9-1 win in the opening game of the doubleheader. Courtney Allen, Becky Notte, Emily Quatrale, and Nicole Blantz each collected RBI in the first frame, with Blantz's bases-clearing double proving to be the big blow.

The fourth inning proved to be just as productive as the Falcons added two more runs to extend their lead to 9-0. Carrie Fix led off the inning with a walk then moved into scoring positon when she stole second. She later advanced to third on a bunt-for-a-hit by Brooke Pompeo before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Allen. In the next at-bat, Becky Notte knocked in Pompeo with a doubled to left center to end the scoring.

Claressa Mees (5-3) went the distance in the shortened five-inning game. She allowed just three hits and a single earned run against seven strikeouts and a single walk. Her only blemish came in the fourth when Sammy Bost singled, stole second, then was driven in by Jordyn Miller.

Allen and Notte each collected two hits and two RBI, while the team finished with eight hits overall. Blantz led the Falcons with three RBI.

Game Two

The Falcons took the early lead again scoring seven runs through the first three innings. In the first, the bats were blazing as Courtney Allen (triple), Becky Notte (double), and Nicole Blantz (double) each picked up extra base hits, fueling the 3-0 charge.

Big hits continued through the next two innings when Carrie Fix ripped a two-run shot over the left field fence for her third homerun of the season. Notte followed Fix's lead with a solo homerun in the third. This was Notte's first of the season.

Through 2.5 innings of play and holding a 7-1 lead, it seemed like the Falcons and starter Carrie Fix were in the driver's seat.

The Dutchmen, however, had other plans. In the bottom of the third, LVC countered by scoring five runs on five hits to pull within one run. Following a three-run homerun the Falcons decided to make a pitching change and turn the ball over to Claressa Mees, who got out of the inning with ease.

But the damage had been done.

With the 7-6 advantage, Messiah desperately needed to add some insurance runs. Tina Lehman, Fix, Pompeo, Allen, and Notte answered the call in the top of the fourth, adding three more runs on two hits. Lehman started things off by making the most out of a not-so-good situation. After striking out, she ran to first on the dropped third strike and was called safe. In the next at-bat, Fix doubled to move Lehman onto third. With runners on second and third, Pompeo put the ball in play, but the Dutchmen failed to come up with a play, resulting in a fielder's choice that yielded no out. Moments later Allen came through in the clutch, delivering a two-run single to plate both Lehman and Fix. Notte rounded out the scoring with a sacrifice fly that scored Pompeo and gave the Falcons the 10-6 lead.

After closing things out in the third inning, Mees held strong through the next two innings, giving up just one hit. In the bottom of the seventh, the Dutchmen rallied to load the bases and attempt a comeback, but Mees (6-3) worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam, giving up only one run before retiring the side for the win.

Allen and Notte led the Falcons' offense with two hits and three RBI, while Fix went 3-4 with two RBI.

The Falcons next doubleheader will be on Saturday when they host Lycoming College. Game One is slated to begin at 12:00 p.m.