Grantham, PA - The Messiah Falcons jumped out to a five run lead but Penn State Abington scored four runs in the seventh and three runs in the eighth to take claim a 9-8 victory over the Falcons. Joseph Saufley continued his hot streak at the plate with a 4-4 day. He collected a double, triple, two singles and a walk while driving in two and scoring a run. Saufley also collected a hit in his 16th straight game, a new Messiah record.

John Griffitts took the loss in relief allowing three runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings.
 
As mentioned the Falcons jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the third and a single run in the fourth. IN the third, Adam Janney doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning. An error scored Janney and gave the Falcons a runner on first before Saufley doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third. RBI singles by Kyle Schoen and Hunter Stewart each plated one run while Jon Heisey delivered a sacrifice fly.
 
In the fourth the Falcons executed a first and third play to perfection, Saufley stole second and when the throw went to second, Collin Fry broke for the and scored ahead of the throw giving the Falcons a 5-0 lead.
 
Penn State Abington got a run back in the fourth and another in the sixth to make it a 5-2 game, before Saufley tripled to center field scoring Janney from first. After the RBI triple Messiah led 6-2 heading into the seventh.
 
The Falcons went to the bullpen at the beginning of the seventh, removing Billy Bendig from the game. Bendig pitched six strong innings allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. He collected one strikeout.
 
In the top of the seventh Penn State Abington plated four runs to tie the game on just two hits. They scored two runs on bases loaded walks and another two runs on an errant pick off throw that ended up down the left field line.
 
With the game tied, the Falcons went down quietly in the seventh. The Nittany Lions scored three in the top of the eighth to make it a 9-6 game. They collected a two-RBI double to right field and an RBI single to left center to plate their three runs.
 
The Falcons fought back with a single run in the eighth on a Joseph Saufley RBI single through the right side. They scored again in the ninth on a John Griffitts sacrifice fly to left cutting the Abington lead to 9-8, but it wasn't enough as that score would hold as the Falcons stranded two runners on base at the games end.
 
As mentioned Saufley now holds the Messiah all-time hitting streak record at 16 games. He also tied Rick Speck's Messiah single season triples record with his seventh three-bagger of the season, a record that has not been matched since it was set in 1971.
 
With the loss the Falcons fall to 14-16 and they will next take the field on Wednesday afternoon when the Elizabethtown Blue Jays travel to Grantham. First Pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.