Fayetteville, NC - The Messiah softball team started the 2017 season off with a bang as they swept Methodist University in a double header contest earlier today. They won the first game 8-2, and then performed strong in the nightcap coming away with a six-inning 10-0 victory.
Erin Cressman was a terror at the plate going 5 for 7 on the day, including a three-run homer, and she scored two runs.
Amanda Jones finished 3 for 7 with three runs scored and two RBI's.
In the circle
Samantha Fouracre earned her first collegiate win in game one allowing five hits and no runs scored across five innings.
Carrie Fix threw all six innings and allowed just one hit to earn the game two win. Overall the Falcons had 21 hits on the day and committed just one error on defense.
They are back in action this Saturday when they take on Emory University at 9:00 a.m and William Peace University at 11:00 a.m. in Raleigh, N.C.
Game One – Messiah 8, Methodist 2
In game one of Thursday's double-header, the Falcons (2-0) collected 10 hits and benefited from four runs in the first inning en route to the 8-2 win.
Erin Cressman went 3-4 with a double and one run scored, while
Amanda Jones went 2-4 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI.
Amber Bingaman had one hit, two RBI's, and scored two runs.
Madelyn Yanetti started the game throwing two innings, giving up two runs off three hits and then
Samantha Fouracre (1-0) finished it off allowing no runs and five hits across the remaining five innings.
Jones started off the first inning with one out, hitting a single to right field and then Cressman singled to center field. Bingaman walked to load the bases and then
Sydney Boreman reached on an error by the Monarchs,
Amanda Jones scored on the play giving Messiah the 1-0 lead.
Emily Quatrale singled to right field scoring Cressman on the hit and then Boreman and Bingaman both scored to push the lead to 4-0.
Methodist got one run back in the bottom of the first inning off two hits and added one more in the bottom of the second to cut the lead 4-2. With a 4-2 lead through four innings, the Falcons erupted for four runs in the seventh to take a commanding lead.
Carrie Fix got things started with a one-out walk in the seventh and then
Samantha Esper reached on a bunt-single, with Fix scoring on the play. With a runner on second base,
Amanda Jones hit a shot to left field scoring Esper to make the score 6-2 and reaching second for the double. The next at-bat saw
Amber Bingaman hit an inside the park home run to right field scoring Jones and giving Messiah the 8-2 lead and they went on to win game one by that score.
Game Two – Messiah 10, Methodist 0
The Falcons kept up the momentum in game two and scoring was certainly not a problem as they pushed across 10 runs off 11 hits.
Erin Cressman had another strong game at the plate going 2-3 with two runs scored and a three run home run.
Samantha Esper went 2-3 with two RBI's and scored two runs, and
Amber Bingaman also had two hits in the game.
Carrie Fix (6-0) threw all six innings allowing just one hit across 18 batters faced.
After going scoreless in the first two innings,
Shannon Denny doubled down the left field line in the top of the third with one out to get things started. Denny advanced to third on a wild pitch and then Fix walked. With runners on first and third,
Samantha Esper laid down a sac bunt to score Denny giving Messiah a 1-0 lead.
The fourth inning started off with Cressman hitting a single and advancing to second on a fielding error.
Amber Bingaman then singled and with runners on first and third, Cressman scored on a pass ball.
Sydney Boreman reached on a walk and
Angie Stephano reached on a fielder's choice, Bingaman was thrown out at home on the play.
With runners on second and third,
Haylee Anders stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-run double to push the lead 4-2. Messiah added two more runs in the fifth and heading into what would be the final sixth inning with a 6-0 lead.
With a 7-0 lead and runners on second and third, Cressman tallied her fifth hit of the day, and it was a big one. She crushed a home run to left field giving the Falcons a 10-0 advantage. The Monarchs were unable to push a run across the plate in the bottom of the inning, resulting in a six-inning mercy rule win in favor of the Falcons.
