Kissimme, FL - Messiah College softball ended their Spring Break games Saturday afternoon with two solid wins over quality opponents. The Falcons edged Rowan University 4-3 in their first game of the day, then turned around to double up Ramapo College 8-4. They close out their Spring Break trip with an impressive 8-1 record and move to 9-2 overall.

Messiah 4, Rowan 3
The Falcons scored four runs in the third inning to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win 4-3 over Rowan University. Courtney Allen provided the big blow with a three-run bomb to back-up an RBI bunt single by Carrie Fix. Allen (6-0) earned the win on the mound, too, after pitching seven innings and striking out five.

Messiah struggled to produce offensively through the first two innings, going three in-three out in their first two at-bats.

The Profs (5-5), on the other hand, were strong out of the gate, posting two runs in the first and one run in the second to take an early 3-0 lead.

The Falcons scoring drought ended in the third when Erin Cressman's lead-off single was followed by a walk from Kayla Parker to put runners on second and third with just one out. In the next at-bat, Fix executed a bunt-for-a-hit, resulting in the Falcons' first tally. Allen followed Fix's RBI and delivered the go-ahead runs in one swing when she went yard (her first of the season), giving Messiah the 4-3 lead.

The Profs struggled to convert offensively once they trailed, despite amassing 12 hits on the day. They left seven runners on base after the Falcons pulled ahead in the top of the third; stranding 11 runners overall.

Messiah's ace, Courtney Allen, escaped tough situations through the final five innings by keeping the Profs off-balanced. In the bottom of the fourth, the Falcons found themselves with their backs against the wall after the Profs loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. With just one out on their side, the Falcons worked their way out of the jam by getting the lead runner out at the plate and then Allen shut it down with a strikeout.

The Falcons' best opportunity to add to their tally came in the top of the fifth when Rowan committed two defensive errors. As a result, Messiah had runners on second and third with two outs. Amanda Jones was unable to knock her teammates in, ending the inning with a groundout to third.

The Profs fought to the very end, but the Falcons' defense was too strong. In the bottom of the seventh Rowan drew a lead-off walk to give them one final shot. Following a strike out in the next at-bat, catcher Becky Notte gunned down Rowan's attempt to steal second resulting in the Profs' second out. Allen gave up a single to the next batter then followed with a strikeout to retire the side and seal the victory.

Messiah 8, Ramapo 4
The Falcons used a five-run first to take an early lead over Ramapo College (0-2). That lead would stand through the rest of the game, despite the two-spot that the Roadrunners posted in both the second and fourth innings. The Falcons added single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to secure the 8-4 win.

The Falcons jumped out to a strong start against Ramapo, posting five runs in the bottom of the first. Brooke Pompeo became the Falcons' first baserunner on a one-out walk then advanced the second on a single by Becky Notte and was driven home on a single from Amanda Jones. Amber Bingaman joined the hit fest with a two-run single of her own in the next at-bat then was followed by another single from Amanda Petersen that scored two more runs to give the Falcons the 5-0 advantage.

The Roadrunners responded in the top of the second, posting two runs on a triple from Danielle Saporito. With their deficit at only three runs, Ramapo drew even closer in the top of the fourth, adding two more runs to pull within one.

Carrie Fix started the game for the Falcons but was pulled in the fourth after giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks. Madelyn Yannetti took over for the Falcons, holding the Roadrunners to just two hits through the remaining three innings.

The Falcons extended their lead by posting single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Becky Notte picked up two RBI in the process while the third run crossed the plate due to a Ramapo error.

Notte went 4-for-4 in the game, leading the team with two doubles and two RBI. Bingaman (1-for-2) and Petersen (2-for-3) each notched two RBI with Jones (1-for-3) picking up the final tally.

Fix earned the win and moves to 3-1 on the season while Yannetti threw 3.1 solid innings, allowing just two hits, one walk and had one strikeout.

The Falcons return to Grantham next week to begin a two-game homestand. They will host York College of Pa. on Wednesday, March 17 at 3:00 p.m. then wait a full week to open MAC Commonwealth play with Alvernia University on Wednesday, March 24 at 3:00 p.m.