Grantham, PA – The No. 9 Messiah softball team split with Eastern Mennonite University today winning 3-1 in the first game and falling 4-2 in the night cap. Carrie Fix was 3-6 at the plate with a run scored and Amanda Jones went 2-6 with three RBI's and three runs scored. In the first game Jones also reached a milestone recording her 200^th career hit and is the fourth player in Messiah softball history to do so. On top of that, the hit was a triple which makes her the new all-time leader for career triples with a total of 16.

Fix (11-2) went the distance throwing a complete game giving up five hits and striking out three batters in game one and Madelyn Yannetti (13-3) picked up the loss in game two.

Game One: Messiah 3, Easter Mennonite 1
Carrie Fix singled down the left field line to get things going for Messiah in the first inning. She was moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Samantha Esper. The next batter, Amanda Jones, certainly made some noise hitting a triple to left field to score Fix. Not only did that give the Falcons a 1-0 lead, it was also Jones' 200^th career hit and she is just the fourth player in Messiah softball history to reach the milestone. The credits do not stop there, however, as that triple also places Jones in first place in the softball all-time record book for career triples with 16 total.With Jones on third base and two outs, Amber Bingaman hit a RBI triple over the right fielder's head extending the Falcon lead 2-0.

In the top of the second the Royals had opportunities to score and managed to get one run back, but the Falcon defense stayed tough and escaped the inning without any real damage. With two outs Michaela Nichols singled to center field and the next two batters walked to load the bases. With Beck Hoskins up at the plate she drew another walk and so a run scored to cut Messiah's lead down by one. Carrie Fix retired Alexa Sheets by way of a ground out to end the inning.

Shannon Denny reached on an error with one out to start the second inning for Messiah. Carrie Fix and Samantha Esper both laid down bunt singles to reach and load the bases. With Jones at the plate, she reached by a way of a fielder's choice as Denny was thrown out on the force play at home. Erin Cressman was retired and the Falcons left three runners on base.

In the bottom of the fifth Messiah added another run to their total when Amanda Jones hit a ball that was misplayed by the center fielder and with her speed Jones kept on running making it all the way home for the inside the park home run. That moved the Falcons' lead up 3-1. Eastern Mennonite's Sydney Reath singled to start things in the top of the sixth and then Lauren Seale drew a walk but Carrie Fix retired the next three batters in order to end the Royal's chance of scoring.

After Messiah's turn at bat, they held a 3-1 lead heading into the seventh inning and that is how the game would end as Fix did strong work in the circle and the defense was solid behind her to finish and take game one.

Game Two: Messiah 2, Eastern Mennonite 4
In the bottom of the first inning, Samantha Esper hit a ball down the right field line that rolled all the way to the fence and with Esper's speed, she made it all the way around the bases for the inside the park home run. Amanda Jones then singled to shortstop and scored on a double by Erin Cressman that hit off the third baseman's glove and rolled to the fence.

In the top of the third inning Michaela Nichols walked and then Cassidey Chrisman singled to start the inning. After the runners were advanced on a sacrifice bunt Beck Hoskins grounded out to Emily Quatrale but a run scored on the play. Alexa Sheets then delivered a singled to center field to tie the game at two.

With the scored tied at two, one out and a runner on base, Alexa Sheets singled do the left field line and Beck Hoskins advanced to third on a Falcon error while Sheets made it safely to second base. The Royals put on the suicide squeeze on the next play and Hoskins was able to score safely and then due to a throwing error Sheets was able to score from second and give Easter Mennonite a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Amanda Petersen singled up the middle to get things going and Kayla Parker entered to pinch run. After stealing second, Parker was thrown out on a fielder's choice by Shannon Denny for the second out of the inning. Carrie Fix ripped a double of the left field fence but then Esper grounded out to end the inning.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning Messiah still trailed 4-2 and needed a rally to come back and win but unfortunately fell short as all three batters were retired.

With the split the Falcons are now 26-6 overall on the year and are back on the field tomorrow afternoon against Lycoming College at 3:30 p.m.