Grantham, PA – The No. 10 Messiah softball team swept  Shenandoah University winning 7-0 in the first game and then came from behind in game two to win 7-5. Amanda Jones went 5-8 with six RBI's andthree runs scored to lead the Falcons. Samantha Esper was 3-8 with two runs scored on the day and Sydney Boreman had a good offense outing in game two going 2-3 with two RBI's and a run scored.

Madelyn Yannetti (12-1) earned the win in game one and then Carrie Fix (10-2) picked up the win in game number two.

The Falcons are back in action this Thursday when they take on MAC Commonwealth opponent Hood College in a double header. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.

Game One: Messiah 7, Shenandoah 0
Samantha Esper started things off for the Falcons in first inning with a hit down the left field line. For most it would only be a single but with Esper's speed she managed to stretch it out to a double. Amanda Jones then stepped up and hit a shot over the center fielder's head and her fast feet would reach all the way to third base safely. Esper scored on the play to give Messiah a 1-0 lead.

Erin Cressman then delivered a single up the middle to score Jones. With two outs McKenzie Tebbs hit a pop fly to shallow left center and the shortstop for Shenandoah was unable to make the play, so Cressman advanced to third and Tebbs to second. Sydney Boreman then hit a pop fly out to left center and the left fielder struggled to make the play coming across as it tipped off her glove and allowed Cressman and Tebbs to score increasing the Falcons lead 4-0.

In the bottom of the fourth Shannon Denny singled with one out to get things going for the Falcons. Carrie Fix then double to right center and Denny scored on the hit. Samantha Esper singled and Fix advanced to third and then Amanda Jones hit a single to left field scoring Fix. With runners at second and third, Erin Cressman hit a sacrifice fly to center field and Esper tagged up and scored on the play. Messiah scored three runs off four hits at held a solid 7-0 lead after four innings of play.

Shenandoah had a chance in the fifth to push some runs across after an error and single allowed runners at first and second, however, Yannetti forced two ground outs and a fly out to center field to retire the side.

Messiah had a chance to end the game early in the bottom of the fifth and sixth inning and loaded the bases but unfortunately they were unable to push a run across. In the seventh inning, the Hornets starting to get some hits off Madelyn Yannetti and so Jaelyn Harbold entered to finish the game off. With the bases loaded Amanda Jones made a nice play at the plate for the first out of the inning and then Esper also made a nice play getting the runner at home. After Harbold walked a batter she was able to strike out the next one for the final out of the game.

Game Two: Messiah 7, Shenandoah 5
Samantha Esper singled and then stole second with one out in the first inning to get things going for Messiah and Amanda Jones kept her bat hot with a double to left center scoring Esper on the play. Erin Cressman flied out to center field and Jones tagged up to advance to third base. With two outs Amber Bingaman hit a single to left center to score Jones and give the Falcons a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning Shenandoah responded with runs of their own, Haley Koeninger started the inning with a single and then Karli Rorabaugh aslo singled. On the next play Messiah made a throwing error to try and get the lead runner at third and so the bases were loaded when Harbold hit the next batter allowing a run to score.
Carrie Robinson then singled down the right field line with Janae Hester and Alexis Morin both scoring on the play. After a hit by Ashlyn Drake scored Megan Wilk, Harbold was able to retire the next batter to end the inning. Shenandoah scored four runs off four hits and two Falcon errors to take a 4-2 lead.

After Messiah was retired in the bottom of the second inning, Shenandoah scored another run to extend their lead 5-2. Makaela Dawkins hit a double to score Haley Koeninger and then Samantha Fouracre entered to pitch for the Falcons and ending the inning with a strikeout.

The fifth inning is when Messiah started to make some noise and used two big at-bats to bust it open and score five runs. Shannon Denny and Carrie Fix both singled and advanced to second and third on a ground out by Samantha Esper. Amanda Jones, who had the hot bat all day, stepped up big hitting her first home run of the year to tie the game at five.

The Falcons weren't done there as a few batters later and with two outs Sydney Boreman went yard with a two-run homer to put Messiah up 7-5. Carrie Fix and the Messiah defense finished the game strong as the Hornets did not have any opportunities to score in the last two innings.