Grantham, PA – The No. 9 Messiah softball team swept Lycoming College in two close games, winning 3-2 in the first and 5-4 in extra innings in the second game. Shannon Denny was 3-7 on the day with one run scored and had the game-winning RBI in the night cap. Amanda Jones was 2-6 overall with three RBI's, and Carrie Fix was 3-4 with a run scored.

Fix also reached a career milestone and recorded her 100th career run. She is the ninth player in Messiah softball history to reach that mark. Madelyn Yannetti (14-3) picked up the win in the second game and Fix (12-2) went the distance in the first for the win.

Game One: Messiah 3, Lycoming 2
The Warriors got on the score board first when Kelcie Crabb hit a single with one out and then Ashley Shoenstadt hit a home run over the left field fence to give Lycoming an early 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Messiah answered and scored two runs to tie the game 2-2. Shannon Denny led things off with a single to left field and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Carrie Fix.

Samantha Esper hit a single to left field, but an error allowed Denny to score from second base and with Esper's speed, she made it all the way safely to third. Amanda Jones then laid down a bunt single to score Esper, but was caught stealing on the next play and the next batter was retired for the Falcons.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Amber Bingaman got things going for Messiah when she hit an infield single and then advanced to second base on a passed ball. Sydney Boreman drew a walk and then Denny reached safely on an error by the third baseman. With Carrie Fix at the plate and the bases loaded, she was patient and also drew a walk to bring home Bingaman and give Messiah a 3-2 lead.

The final three innings of the game were relatively quiet as both pitchers settled in and defense was solid for both teams. Heading into the seventh inning the Falcons still held a 3-2 advantage and that is how the game would end. Lycoming managed to get the tying run into scoring position with one out but Carrie Fix came up big to strike out the final two batters to end the game.

Game Two: Messiah 5, Lycoming 4 (8 innings)
The Falcons made some noise to start off the second inning when Amber Bingaman and Amanda Petersen hit back-to-back home runs over the left field fence to give Messiah a 2-0 lead. The Warriors got one run back in the fourth inning when Rachael Shady hit a single up the middle and advanced to second to second on a ground out. With two outs, Ashley Shoenstadt delivered a singled to score Shady and cut the lead down 2-1.

Neither team had opportunities to score in the following innings until the bottom of the fifth when Messiah pushed two runs across to increase their lead 4-2. Shannon Denny laid down a bunt single and then Carrie Fix singled up the middle with Denny advancing to third on the play. With runners at second and third, Amanda Jones hit an RBI single to score both runners. Erin Cressman then doubled but Jones was thrown out at home by the left fielder on the attempt to score from second.

The Falcons' lead did not last too long as the Warriors responded with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth to tie the game. Madison Brown singled to center field and then Rachael Shady singled to left field. Kelcie Crabb hit a double to left center and scored both runners and then due to a throwing error by Messiah Crabbs was able to score for the inside park home run and tie the game 4-4.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh with the scored still tied, Messiah had a big chance to score after a single by Carrie Fix, Amanda Jones was intentionally walked, and then Erin Cressman was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Unfortunately the next two batters were retired by Shady to end the inning and take the game into extra innings.

Defensively, the Falcons were solid in the top of the eighth and did not give the Warriors any chance to score. In the bottom half of the inning, Emily Quatrale drew a walk and then was advanced to second on a ground out by Madelyn Yannetti. Shannon Denny came up big with her bat delivering a walk-off single to help Messiah earn the sweep and win 5-4.

The Falcons are now 29-6 overall and 12-2 in the MAC Commonwealth. They travel to Gettysburg College on Saturday for two games set to begin at 1:00 p.m.