Tucson, Ariz. - The No. 18 Messiah softball team started play in the NFCA Leadoff Classic today falling to DePauw University 11-4, and then No. 20 Wisconsin-Oshkosh 10-5. Today started a string of six games across three days for the Falcons, which include other notable and strong programs. Carrie Fix went 6-7 across the two games and hit two doubles on the day to break the all-time program record for career doubles with 53. The previous mark of 52 was held by Becky Notte '16. Isabel Seise went 3-4 with a run scored while Nicole Kreimer went 2-3 with 2 RBI's and a run scored in game two by way of a three-run homer. 

Messiah is now 4-2 on the year and will continue competition at the Leadoff Classic with two more games tomorrow. They play No. 22 George Fox at 3:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. eastern time) and finish the day with No. 6 Trine University at 5:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. eastern time). 

Game One: Messiah 4, DePauw 11
The Tigers jumped to an early lead by scoring two runs in the first and second innings, but the Falcons responded with a four-run third inning to tie the game at 4. Amber Bingaman hit a sacrifice fly to score Ashley Carroll and then Angie Stephano delivered a double to score Carrie Fix and Samantha Esper who reached base by way of a single and walk respectively. The game was tied heading into the seventh inning when DePauw erupted for seven runs off five hits including a grand slam to take an 11-4 lead and go on to win the game. 

Game Two: Messiah 5, Wisconsin-Oshkosh 10
The second game of the day for Messiah proved to be a tough one, although they had 10 hits in the game, they left 10 runners on base. After two scoreless innings, the Titans were the first to score and they did so in a big way with six runs off six hits in the third inning. Trailing 6-0, the Falcons needed a response and showed some life in the top of the fourth inning when Angie Stephano was hit by a pitch and then Isabel Seise kept things going with a single. After a sacrifice bunt by Haylee Anders advanced runners, McKenzie Tebbs reached by way of a fielder's choice and Stephano scored on the play. Then with one runner on, Nicole Kreimer hit a homerun to left center field to cut the lead in half 6-3. Wisconsin-Oshkosh came up big with a four-run response in the fifth inning to go back up 10-5. 

Down to their last chance heading into the seventh inning, the Falcons started things off with two singles by Amber Bingaman and Erin Cressman. Stephano then stepped up and hit a line shot right to the second baseman and Bingaman was doubled up on the play. Seise hit a single and then two batters latter Anders reached on an error which allowed Cressman to score and then Seise scored on a sinlge by Tebbs. However, a strikeout by the next batter ended the Falcons' rally as they fell 10-5.