Grantham, PA – The No. 7 Messiah softball team defeated York College in a double header sweep earlier this evening. Erin Cressman, McKenzie Tebbs, and Sydney Boreman all went 3-6 on the day, while Amanda Jones went 3-7. Emily Quatrale came up big in the second game going 2-3, which included delivering a game-winning RBI in the seventh inning. Overall the Falcons compiled 18 hits on the day, committing just two errors on defense.
 
The Falcons were strong in the circle as Carrie Fix (2-0) threw all seven innings in the first game while Madelyn Yannetti (2-0) threw a complete game two.
 
Game One: Messiah 4, York 0
Messiah scored a single run in each of the first two innings of game one and they added insurance late to win 4-0 at York on Wednesday afternoon. Carrie Fix went the distance and allowed just two hits over her seven innings against five strikeouts. Four players-- Amanda Jones (2-4), Erin Cressman (3-3), Sydney Boreman (2-4) and McKenzie Tebbs (2-3)-- combined for nine of the Falcons' 12 hits.
 
Carrie Fix (2-0) was tough in the circle as she went the full seven innings giving up just one run off two hits and striking out five.
 
In the first inning, Carrie Fix got things started off right away with a single up the middle and was advanced to second on a SAC bunt by Samantha Esper. Amanda Jones singled to right field with Fix advancing to third on the hit, and then Jones stole second on the next pitch. With runners on second and third, Erin Cressman walked to load the bases and then Amber Bingaman hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Fix and giving Messiah a 1-0 lead.
 
After retiring the side in the bottom of the first, McKenzie Tebbs hit a big double to left field to begin the second inning. Catcher Haley Hirn for the Spartans attempted a pickoff at second base but instead committed a throwing error, which allowed Tebbs to score increasing the Falcons lead 2-0.
 
Messiah had more chances to score in the third, fourth, and sixth inning but were unable to capitalize leaving runners on base. They added two more runs in the top of the seventh when Amanda Jones started the inning with a triple to center field. Erin Cressman singled up the middle for the RBI and then Amber Bingaman followed with a single. Ashley Carroll entered the game to run for Cressman and the next batter Sydney Boreman hit a single through the left side to load the bases.
 
Tebbs stepped up to the plate next and delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored Carroll adding another insurance run for the Falcons. York had their best opportunity to score in the bottom of the seventh as two runners reached base but Carrie Fix battled out of the inning to help give Messiah the 4-0 win.
 
Game Two: Messiah 1, York 0
The run didn't' come as easy in the second game but a late seventh inning hit by Emily Quatrale sealed the deal as Messiah went on to defeat York 1-0 in the night cap. Quatrale went 2-3 while Carrie Fix, Amanda Jones, McKenzie Tebbs, and Sydney Boreman each had one hit in the game. Madelyn Yannetti (2-0) threw a solid seven innings giving up no runs, allowing four hits, and striking out three. Defense was especially solid in game two as the Spartans put the pressure on at times but the Falcons were able to hold them off.
 
Carrie Fix began the game with a sinlge through the left side but was later caught stealing third, and Messiah was retired the rest of inning one. York had an opportunity to score when Savannah Zittle hit a single and reached second on a fielding error and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, Yannetti stayed composed and worked out of the first inning unscathed.
 
The bottom of the second didn't come easy as the Spartans loaded the bases with one out, but a play from Amanda Jones to McKenzie Tebbs and a strikeout by Yannetti got the Falcons out of the jam.
 
Emily Quatrale started the third inning off with a double down the right field line and eventually advanced to third on a balk but was left stranded as the next two batters were retired. Messiah had small opportunities the next couple innings to score but it wasn't until the sun went down and the darkness came when they made some noise.
 
With one out Sydney Boreman drew a walk and the McKenzie Tebbs singled to second base, advancing pitch runner Nicole Kreimer to second. Quatrale with the hot bat stepped up to the plate and delivered a one-out single to center field scoring Kreimer and give Messiah the 1-0 lead. They would take that into the bottom of the seventh where York made some noise of their own, but it wasn't enough as the Falcon defense held tight retiring the side earning the double header sweep.
 
The Falcons fly south for their spring break trip in Florida and their first game will be this Saturday Mar. 11 when the take on Bethel College at 6:00 p.m.