FREDRICKSBURG, Va. - The Falcons struck first in game one of a doubleheader that would end in extra innings. Messiah defeated Mary Washinginton 6-5 after being down 4-2 going into the top of the sixth. Messiah collected 11 hits to record six runs while the Eagles recorded nine hits, registering five runs. McKenzie Tebbs led the way in game one for the Falcons, going 3-4 with two RBI's. Joy Kolakowski stayed in the circle for all eight innings, finishing the game with two strikeouts.

Messiah was on the other side of a 7-0 deficit after two innings in game two but responded with three three-run home runs to highlight their comeback as they defeated the Eagles 11-8. McKenzie Tebbs led the way for the second time today as she went 2-3 with two home runs and six RBI's. Tebbs combined for a total of five hits and eight RBI's on the day to help lift the Falcons over the Eagles in both games today. Emily Albanese recorded her first collegiate win after pitching 5.2 innings with two strikeouts.

Game One, Messiah 6, Mary Washington 5
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, Messiah started the scoring in the top of the second. Jaelynn Harbold opened up the inning with a single. Jordan Bailey came to first base to pinch run for Harbold and advanced to second after a ground out to third base from Kara Birosak. Bailey then advanced to third on a passed ball. Isabel Seise walked to first base before McKenzie Tebbs hit an RBI single to bring Bailey home and move Seise to second. Later on in the inning, Isabel Seise scored from third on a passed ball to end the scoring in the top of the sixth.

Mary Washington responded with back to back singles to put runners on first and second base. Both runners advanced one base after a passed ball before the Eagles' Morgan Mumford reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in their lone run in the inning. 

The third inning was hitless for both the Falcons and Eagles. In the fourth inning, Kara Birosak reached on an error by the short stop but was left on base after a fly out and a strikeout.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Eagles put a runner on base with one out after a single and followed it up with a two-RBI homerun to take a 3-2 lead over Messiah.

The Falcons went hitless again in the top of the fifth, leaving Erin Cressman on first after she walked. The Eagles continued their scoring in the bottom of the fifth after hitting a triple then an RBI single to take the lead 4-2. The Falcons stranded one runner on base after Erin Cressman caught a line drive and McKenzie Tebbs threw a runner out at third to end the inning. 

The Falcons had a big sixth inning as Rianna Trexler got things started with a single. Trexler scored from first base after Jaelynn hit an RBI double. Kara Birosak kept things going for Messiah as she hit an RBI single to bring Jaelynn Harbold home and tie the game 4-4. McKenzie Tebbs came through moments later to bring Birosak home with an RBI single, giving the Falcons the 5-4 advantage. The Falcons ended the inning with a fly out to left field with two runners on base.

Mary Washington responded in the bottom of the sixth, starting the inning with a triple, followed by a ground ball to second base that brought in the tying run. 

The Falcons put two runners on base in the top of the seventh with Rianna Trexler and Kara Birosak both hitting singles but both were left on base after the inning came to a close after a fly out to third base. The Falcons forced extra innings after striking out the lead off batter and catching to fly outs to end the inning.

McKenzie Tebbs opened up the top of the eighth inning with a single that would turn out to be the deciding factor in this game. Tebbs advanced to second after a ground out from Karlee Stocksdale. Tebbs moved over to third after Ashley Carroll hit a ground out to third base. With two outs, Erin Cressman came to the plate and hit an RBI single to bring Tebbs home.

The Eagles didn't quit, starting the bottom of the eighth with a single followed by a fielder's choice that resulted in one out and a runner on first. The Eagles' Daylah Sawyer grounded out to short stop, advancing Mabyn Perez to second. Perez advanced to third after Rachel Remer reached on fielder's choice. After a walk, the bases were loaded with two outs but Morgan Mumford grounded out to second base, giving the Falcons the 6-5 win in extra innings.

Game Two, Messiah 11, Mary Washington 8
The Falcons started game two going down by sevens runs by the end of the second inning but would battle their way back before the end of regulation. After two walks in the bottom of the second, the Eagles recorded four singles that brought home five runs before the Falcons brought Emily Albanese to the circle, Mary Washington added one more run with Albanese pitching, hitting an RBI single to take a 7-0 lead over Messiah.

The Falcons went down one, two, three in the top of the third but held the Eagles to just one hit in the bottom of the third. 

McKenzie Tebbs sparked the Falcons' offense in the top of the fourth after hitting a three-run homerun to bring home Kara Birosak and Rianna Trexler and cut the Eagles' lead to 7-3. Moments later, Erin Cressman hit a two-RBI double to bring in Ashley Carroll and Emily Albanese, putting the Falcons within two of Mary Washington. 

The Eagles went three up and three down after two fly outs and a ground out to move the game to the top of the fifth inning. 

After a single from Jaelynn Harbold, Kara Birosak reached on an error, putting two runners on with McKenzie Tebbs coming to the plate. Tebbs repeated her at-bat from the fourth hitting, hitting her second three-run bomb of the day, giving the Falcons an 8-7 lead over the Eagles. After Emily Albanese walked and Karlee Stocksdale hit a single to second base, putting two runners on with Isabel Seise to plate. Seise followd in Tebbs' footsteps, hitting the third three-run homerun of the game to give the Falcons an 11-7 lead over Mary Washington.

The Eagles responded in the bottom of the fifth with one run to make it 11-8 but failed to come back from Messiah's big fourth and fifth innings in the last two innings, giving the Falcons their second win of the day.

What's Up Next
The Falcons are now 4-2 on the season and will head to warmer weather for their annual spring break trip. Messiah is scheduled to play eight games against five different teams over the span of six days in Plant City, FL. from Mar. 16 through Mar. 21.