Glenside, PA – The No. 10 Messiah softball team swept Arcadia earlier this afternoon winning a close first game 4-3 and then dominating in the second game to win 6-0. Samantha Esper was 4-8 with three runs scored, Amanda Jones went 3-6 with four RBI's, and Erin Cressman was 2-4 with three RBI's on the day.
 
Carrie Fix (9-2) picked up the win in game one and Madelyn Yannetti (11-1) earned a save in game one and the win in game two.
 
The Falcons are now 23-4 overall on the season and 9-1 in the MAC Commonwealth. They are back on the diamond Tuesday Apr. 11 at home against Shenandoah University. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.

Game One: Messiah 4, Arcadia 3
Messiah was able to score first in the top of the second inning to take a1-0 lead. Erin Cressman drew a walk to start the inning and then was advanced to second on a bunt single by Amber Bingaman. McKenzie Tebbs laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. Sydney Boreman also then laid down a bunt to score Cressman and reached first safely, but the Falcons next two batters were retired leaving two on base.
 
Arcadia answered in their half of the inning when Nicole Iasiello, Bekah Good, and Kaylee Zarick all hit singles to load the bases with one out. The next batter Ashley Eckett was hit by a pitch and so Iasiello was able to score on the play at tie the game at one. Carrie Fix was able to retire the next two batters and the Knights left three people on base.
 
The top of the fifth inning was when the Falcons were able to break it open and add three more runs to take a 4-1 lead over the Knights. Haylee Anders started the inning with a single and then Shannon Denny reached safely on a bunt single, Anders advanced to second on the play. Fix moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, and then Esper reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases.
 
Amanda Jones came through big and hit a single through the left side to score both Anders and Denny. With runners at second and third, Erin Cressman hit a single to score Esper for the fourth run.
 
It seems that every inning Messiah would put some runs on the board, Arcadia would respond in the same inning as they scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead 4-3.
 
Jackie Bilotti hit a single, stole second, and then was brought home on a triple to center field by Kristin Cancelliere. The next batter reached on an error by Messiah and Cancelliere scored on the play. With one out and runners on first and third, Ashton Evans attempted to steal but was thrown out by McKenzie Tebbs. Amanda Hess broke for home on the play but Jones tossed it to Tebbs who picked Hess off as she attempted to go back to third base to end the inning.
 
Neither team had strong chances to score the next two innings but Arcadia did get the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh. Cancelliere singled and stole second with one out but Madelyn Yannetti entered to finish the game. She was able to retire the next two batters by way of groundouts and help Messiah to victory 4-3.

Game Two: Messiah 6, Arcadia 0
Offense was a little more present in the game two for the Falcons as they had eight hits and scored six runs. Erin Cressman started things off with a bang in the bottom of the second inning when she hit her sixth home run of the year to put the Falcons up 1-0.
 
In the top of the fourth Messiah managed to load the bases after Samantha Esper singled, Cressman walked, and Mckenzie Tebbs singled with two outs, but they were unable to push a run across.
 
Esper started off the sixth inning with a single and Amanda Jones followed with a single up the middle. They were both advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Cressman and two batters later McKenzie Tebbs drew a walk to load the bases. Madelyn Yannetti stepped up big at the plate and delivered a single to right field to score Esper and Jones and increase Messiah's lead to 3-0.
 
In the top of the seventh Carrie Fix and Samantha Esper both reached on errors by Arcadia and then Amanda Jones did as well, with Fix scoring to put the Falcons up 4-0. Cressman hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Esper and then Amber Bingaman singled to score Jones and extend the lead 6-0.
 
After picking up the save in game one, Madelyn Yannetti (11-1) looked very strong in the circle in game two as she went the distance to pick up the win.