XML Box Score Cabo Rojo, PR – The Messiah baseball team avenged a loss earlier this week to the Misericordia by defeating the Cougars 12-4 on Wednesday afternoon. The Falcons went down 3-1 in the early innings but battled back, scoring three runs in the fifth and three more in the eighth to pull away for the 12-4 win.
The Falcons scored their first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by
Adam Janney to drive home
Andrew Eyster but through three innings the Falcons trailed 3-1. The Falcons got one back in the top of the fourth when
Josh Good came around to score on an error by the Cougars closing the gap to 3-2.
In the fifth the Falcons scored three runs to take a 5-3 lead. Janney drove home the first run of the inning with an RBI-double that chased home
Colin Fry. Later in the frame
Joseph Saufley came in to score on a fielder's choice and
Kyle Wickenheiser touched the plate after an executed first and third play.
Now leading 5-3, Messiah added three insurance runs in the top of the eighth. Good doubled to lead off the inning and the Falcons loaded the bases with no outs.
Austin Mellinger singled to bring home a pair of runs.
Sam Stewart also came around to score later in the inning and Messiah took an 8-3 lead.
After a scoreless bottom of the eighth, the Falcons added even more insurance with four runs in the top of the ninth. Messiah loaded the bases with one away for
Andrew Eyster, who delivered a two-RBI single. Eyster and Mellinger also came around to score and Messiah took an 12-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
The Cougars did score one run in the bottom of the ninth, but Messiah's insurance runs were enough for the 12-4 victory.
Normally a reliever,
John Griffitts made his third career-start on the mound. Griffitts threw six strong innings allowing three runs and picked up his first win of the season. Despite the eight-run difference in the final score,
Jordan Nichols earned the save. He entered the game with the Falcons leading 5-3 and pitched three innings (allowing just one run) to earn his first career save.
With the win, Messiah moves to 5-6 on the season and they will take the field later tonight against New Jersey City University at 7:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. local time.
Box Score to follow...
