Cabo Rojo, PR – The Messiah Falcons wrapped up their spring break trip to Puerto Rico on Friday afternoon with a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey City Gothic Knights. Steven Ridings pitched eight quality innings allowing just two runs (none earned) on five hits and three walks. Ridings gave way to Drew Betz in the ninth who converted his second save of the season. Betz allowed an unearned run in the ninth, but struck out the final batter of the game to give Messiah the 4-3 win.
 
Joseph Saufley delivered the big blow at the plate in the bottom of the fifth with a bases clearing triple that chased three Falcons home. The triple turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead for Messiah. Kyle Schoen added a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth.

Ridings' outing started ominously as the first two batters reached an error and walk, respectively. A passed ball put two runners into scoring position with non one out, but Ridings then came up with a huge strikeout to keep it scoreless. A single by Bucholtz plated the first run, but Ridings then coaxed a huge double play to limit the damage.

After that rocky first frame Ridings struck out the side in the second. His only other blemish came in the third when his own error set up a run-scoring fielder's choice that made it 2-0.

The game remained 2-0 until the fifth when Messiah finally broke through. Sam Stewart and Ben Sollenberger each singled around a fielder's choice out, and Adam Janney then walked to load the bases with one out. With the table set, Saufley didn't miss on the opportunity as he drilled a liner into the right centerfield gap for a three-run triple. It was his only hit of the game, but it was the blow Messiah needed to go in front.

Ridings worked around a two-on, two-out situation in the sixth and then put the Gothic Knights down in order in the seventh.

In the eighth Ridings got two quick outs before allowing a single, a stolen base, and a walk to put the tying runner into scoring position. He then induced a groudnout to second to complete his tremendous outing.

In the bottom of the eighth Kyle Schoen provided what turned out to be a huge insurance run with a long homer to left field. That made it 4-2 and, in their last at-bat, the Gothic Knights again threatened. Pulcine reached on a fielding error by Drew Betz who relieved Ridings. A single and a groundout put two runners into scoring position with just one out, and a batter later another groundout made it 4-3.

With the tying run at third Betz came up with a big swinging strikeout of LoGatto to nail down the save.

The eight strikeouts for Ridings is a new season-high, eclipsing the seven K's he earned against both Lynchburg and Misericordia. His eight innings were also a season-high by 1.1 frames.

Messiah collected seven hits with Saufley, Schoen, and Josh Good (double) hitting for extra-bases.

The Falcons return home this weekend and will play at Muhlenberg on Tuesday. They will return home next Saturday, Mar. 19 to host Albright in a MAC Commonwealth double-header.