Bridgewater, VA – A seven-run fifth inning for Bridgewater College proved to be the difference in a 9-5 win over Messiah on Friday afternoon. The Falcons scored the first four runs of the ballgame, but the Eagles responded with nine unanswered and would go on to hand the Falcons their first loss of the young season.
 
Messiah managed to outhit Bridgewater 13-12, but eight of the Eagle hits came in the big fifth frame. The Eagles managed to get their leadoff hitter on base in five of the first six innings, and went 6-13 (.462) with runners in scoring position in the game, compared to 6-16 (.375) for the Falcons.
 
The Falcons were led at the plate by Adam Janney (1-4, 2 RBI, BB, 2 runs scored) and Dan Wiederrecht (2-4, RBI double). Messiah starter Jordan Nichols spun four scoreless innings, but was awarded a no-decision, while Tyler Mitcheltree (0-1) received the loss. The Eagles' Preseason All-American Kenner Berry had a great game at the dish, going 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
Nichols and Bridgewater starter Samuel Imeson, both lefties, each walked a batter in the first inning but then proceeded to pick them off of first base, and get out of the half-innings without allowing a hit.
 
In the top of the second, Adam Janney led off with a walk and quickly stole second. After two outs, Jon Mullin laid down a perfect bunt on the third base line, reaching first without a throw and advancing Janney to third. Kyle Wickenheiser walked on three pitches to load the bases, and then Imeson threw a pitch in the dirt that got by catcher Chris King, allowing Janney to race in from third for the first run of the game. Austin Mellinger walked to again load the bases, but Wiederrecht grounded into a fielder's choice to shortstop to end the inning.
 
Only one hit was recorded between the teams until the top of the fourth, when the Falcons loaded the bases with one out on a walk and two singles, forcing a pitching change for the Eagles. However the new hurler, freshman Casey Crawford, managed to escape the inning unscathed by getting a forceout at home on a bunt attempt by Mellinger and a groundout to first.
 
Nichols kept rolling on the mound, keeping the Eagles off the board in the bottom of the fourth. Messiah came out aggressive at the plate in the top of the fifth, as Josh Hayner singled to center and Colin Fry knocked a single to right, advancing to second on a wild throw from the right fielder to set up runners on second and third with no outs. Janney stepped up to the plate and ripped a grounder past the diving third baseman and down the left field line to score Hayner and Fry. Kyle Schoen kept the rally going on the first pitch, smashing a double into the left field corner to bring Janney home and give the Falcons a 4-0 lead. However, Schoen got picked off of second and the next two Falcons were retired to put a stop to the rally.
 
Tyler Mitcheltree came in to pitch for Nichols in the fifth, and ran into trouble right away. A leadoff single was followed by a strikeout, but then the Eagles followed with six straight singles and five runs to chase Mitcheltree. Matt Wright was called upon to stop the bleeding, but the southpaw gave up an RBI single and a bases-loaded walk before recording the final two outs, giving Bridgewater a 7-4 lead.
 
Bridgewater would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to build their lead to 9-4. In the seventh, Sam Stewart reached first base on a two-out single, but could not advance, and then freshman right-hander Ethan Hess entered in relief and worked a scoreless inning for the Falcons.
 
A pair of doubles by Austin Pletcher and Dan Wiederrecht got one run back for Messiah in the top of the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, Richie Varona made his first appearance of the year and did not allow a hit. Down to their last gasp in the ninth, Hunter Brindle singled to left and Stewart knocked a base hit through the left side, but were both stranded as Bridgewater earned the 9-5 victory.
 
The Falcons will stay the night in Virginia and return to Bridgewater for the second game of the short series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.