WINCHESTER, Va. - This year's matchup between Messiah baseball and the No. 11-ranked Shenandoah University Hornets did not go quite the same as last season, as the home team scored in six of their eight innings at the plate (including an eight-run fourth) and went on to defeat the Falcons 22-4. Last year, Shenandoah visited Grantham as the No. 1 overall team in the Division III ranks, and the Falcons pulled off the enormous 4-1 upset.

Trent Culver had two of the Falcons' eight hits in the game, while Mark Leach went 1-2 with two RBI. On the home side, Shenandoah banged out 22 hits, were walked four times, and Messiah committed seven errors that all contributed to the most runs that a Falcon team has given up since April 5, 2013 when Lebanon Valley racked up 30 runs in a lopsided win. Ben Stewart was impressive in relief, throwing a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning with two strikeouts.

Messiah was able to score first in Tuesday's game, as Kyle Schoen brought home Billy Davis with a two-out RBI single in the top of the first, but the Hornets responded with 20 unanswered runs over the next six innings to take a 20-1 lead after six.

Singles by Kyle WIckenheiser and Jimmy Kustra along with Chris Davis reaching on an error loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh. Mark Leach ame in to pinch-hit for Josh Hayner, and came through with a two-run single to right field for the Falcons' first runs since the opening frame. Messiah was able to scrap together another run in the top of the eighth on a pair of walks and an error, but it would not be nearly enough as Shenandoah came away with the 22-4 victory.

The Falcons fall to 8-15 on the year, and will now travel to Susquehanna University tomorrow (Wednesday) for a nonconference matchup with the Riverhawks at 4:00 p.m.