Frederick, MD – After being no-hit through the first four innings of game two with Hood College, Messiah baseball rattled off seven runs and 12 hits in the last three innings en route to a 7-1 win. In game one earlier in the night, Hood scored three runs in the third that held up for a 3-2 win.
 
Game One
 
Messiah baseball took 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but it couldn't hold up as Hood College countered with three in the bottom of the inning and went on to defeat the Falcons by a score of 3-2.
 
Ben Wilson hit his fourth home run in the sixth, a solo shot, but it was not enough as Messiah only managed five hits on the day, with two coming from Josh Hayner. John Griffitts pitched the full six innings, only giving up five hits but three runs, only one earned, and four strikeouts.
 
Neither team was able to put any runs on the board in the first two innings, before each recorded crooked numbers in the third. Messiah loaded the bases with one out in the top of the inning, when Colin Fry hit into a fielder's choice that scored Jimmy Kustra from third. However, Kyle Schoen struck out to end the inning and the threat. In the bottom of the frame, Hood loaded the bases with no outs, before a groundout, a fielder's choice, and a sacrifice fly scored three runs to put the Blazers up 3-1.
 
That was the only inning that Griffitts surrendered any runs, but even the late Wilson home run was not enough to mount a comeback, and the Falcons fell 3-2.
 
Game Two
 
Messiah's bats were silent for the first four innings of the second game, as the Falcons were no-hit through the four frames. On the other side, Hood only had one hit to their credit off Messiah starter Brandon Shirk, a triple leading off the game by Cam Esposito. However, they were able to cash in, as he would score on an RBI groundout.
 
The Falcon bats finally came alive in the top of the fifth, as they scored two runs on three hits to take a 2-1 lead. After one out was made, Adam Janney broke the no-hitter with a bunt single. With two outs, Fry walked and then stole second to set up Schoen with two in scoring position. Schoen came through in the clutch, singling on a 2-2 pitch to score Janney and Fry. Ben Wilson also singled later in the inning, but Messiah couldn't put any more runs across the plate.
 
After another 1-2-3 inning for Shirk in the bottom of the fifth, Messiah again put the pressure on the Blazers in the top of the sixth. Kyle Wickenheiser led off with a single, followed by a single from Ryan Adamus. However, Jimmy Kustra, who pinch-ran for Wickenheiser, was thrown out attempting to advance to third. Adamus advanced to second on the throw, and he then tried to score as Austin Mellinger singled, but was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning.
 
Adam Janney then reached on a bunt single for the second time on the day, and he and Mellinger pulled off a double steal to put runners on second and third for Austin Pletcher. Pletcher came through in the clutch with a single through the left side to score both runners and put Messiah up 4-1. Colin Fry then stepped up and knocked the first pitch he saw deep to left-center for a ground-rule double to again put runners on second and third. Kyle Schoen came to the plate and kept the two-out rally going, notching his third and fourth RBIs of the game with a single up the middle. That was the end of the run, though, as Wilson struck out to end the inning.
 
The Falcons tacked on one more in the top of the seventh on an Adamus RBI single to left field. Shirk came back out and retired the side after giving up a walk, and the Falcons took game two by a 7-1 score.
 
Brandon Shirk was incredible on the mound, going the full seven innings and only giving up one run on one hit while striking out four. Colin Fry was 1-1, walking three times to go along with the ground-rule double. Adam Janney, Ryan Adamus, and Kyle Schoen each had two hits, with Schoen notching four RBIs.
 
Messiah moves to 10-17 on the year and 4-11 in the MAC Commonwealth. They next play tomorrow afternoon at home in a nonconference matchup with Susquehanna University. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.