FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Messiah softball traveled south this weekend to play Methodist in a season-opening doubleheader, and it was apparent they didn't forget to bring the bats. The Falcons collected 32 hits and scored 24 runs across two wins, and they needed just five innings to run-rule the Monarchs in the second game by a 16-1 score. The losses dropped Methodist to 1-5 on the season.

Messiah will be back in action next Saturday, Feb. 24, when they play a doubleheader at the University of Mary Washington.

Game One – Messiah 8, Methodist 1
Messiah scored at least one run in each of the first four innings, including a four-run fourth that broke the game open, to win 8-1. Four Falcons—Carrie Fix, Samantha Esper, Erin Cressman, and Angie Stephano— each collected two hits, with Fix, Cressman, and Stephano combining for five RBI. Fix also went six innings in the circle, and allowed three hits and a run against six strikeouts.
 
The momentous fourth inning started with a flyout to left field by Esper, but Amber Bingaman (single), Cressman (RBI double), Isabel Seise (walk), and Stephano (two-RBI single) all reached base cleanly to account for three runs. An error later the Falcons scored again, and they ended the frame leading 6-0.
 
Cressman added her second RBI in the fourth inning with a clean single up the middle, and Fix ended the scoring in the seventh with a sac fly to score Haylee Anders.
 
Fix picked up the win with six innings, and her seven strikeouts were one off her career-high set last season against Albright.

Game Two – Messiah 16, Methodist 1
Messiah's bats stayed hot in the second game, and they immediately went up 3-0 in the first inning thanks to a two-run single by Amber Bingaman and another run-scoring hit from Angie Stephano. In their next at-bat they scored five more times, with four Falcons collecting RBI hits.
 
Isabele Seise delivered a big blow in that frame with a two-run double to right field to make it 6-0. Stephano chased her home with another double, and McKenzie Tebbs picked up one of her three hits to put Messiah firmly in front, 8-0.

Messiah put the game out of reach in the fifth running with six more runs, and Madelyn Yannetti earned the win with four innings of one-run ball. Tiffany White tossed a clean frame in relief with two strikeouts, and Messiah completed the sweep after just five innings.