ANNVILLE, Pa. - The Falcons suffered an early 4-0 deficit and couldn't recover in game one. The Dutchmen tallied one run in the first inning and three in the second inning to top Messiah 4-0. Messiah struggled offensively, only recording two hits to the Dutchmen's seven. Messiah also recorded two errors in the field while the Dutchmen had zero.

In game two, the Dutchmen struck first with one run in the bottom of the first. Messiah answered back with one of their own in the top of the second but LVC regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the second. A big four run inning for the Falcons in the top of the fifth gave Messiah their first lead on the day but Lebanon Valley added three in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Messiah and earn the doubleheader sweep.

The Falcons are now 8-10 on the season and 2-2 in the conference. Messiah is on the road for their next doubleheader at York College of Pennsylvania on Thursday at 3:00pm. 

Game One - Lebanon Valley Defeats Messiah 4-0
Messiah started the day with a three up, three down outing in the top of the first. After an error at shortstop, the Dutchmen had a runner on first in the bottom of the first inning. A single down the left field line put a runner in scoring position with no outs. After a fielder's choice ball, the Dutchmen scored on a throwing error to take the 1-0 lead over Messiah.

McKenzie Tebbs started the second inning with a walk but later was out at second after a fielder's choice ball by Jaelynn Harbold. Harbold was stranded on first after a strikeout and a fly out that retired the inning. 

In the bottom of the second inning, Lebanon Valley put two runners on after a single and a fielder's choice ball. The Dutchmen capitalized on the scoring opportunity with a triple to left center to take a 3-0 lead over the Falcons with just one out in the inning. Following that play,  A ground ball to second base would bring home the fourth run of the day for LVC.

Messiah's best opportunity to battle back into the game came in the top of the fourth inning. Ashley Carroll started things for the Falcons with a single to third base. Rianna Trexler came to the plate next for Messiah but was called out after batter's interference. Moments later, McKenzie Tebbs reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in Carroll being out at second. Jaelynn Harbold followed Tebbs with a single to center field to put runners on first and second but both were stranded after Kara Birosak grounded out to third base. 

Messiah struggled offensively in the remaining three innings and fell to the Dutchmen 4-0 in game one. Madelynn Yannetti pitched 5.0 innings for the Falcons, recording three strikeouts through 23 at bats. Rebekah Pais pitched the last inning for Messiah, recording one strikeout through three batters.

Game Two - Lebanon Valley Defeats Messiah 6-5
The Falcons started the second game of the day much like the first, going down in three with a strikeout, a ground out, and a foul out. The Dutchmen got things going in the bottom of the first after, opening up the inning with a walk. After a strikeout, the Dutchmen stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Following that play, Lebanon Valley scored on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead over Messiah.

In the top of the second inning, Jaelynn Harbold singled to left center and was pinch ran for by Jordan Bailey. Isabel Seise put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Bailey to second base. Sam Fouracre grounded out to short stop to advance Bailey to third. Bailey kept moving scored on a throwing error by first base to tie the game 1-1.

Lebanon Valley answered back in the bottom of the second inning, utilizing an error by the Falcons to get a runner on first and an RBI double to take a 2-1 lead.

After three scoreless innings by both teams, Messiah rallied in the top of the fifth to take their first lead of the game. Haylee Anders singled to left center to start the inning. Erin Cressman followed with a single of her own off of a bunt to move Anders over. A passed ball moved both Anders and Cressman into scoring position with Ashley Carroll at the plate. Carroll reached on a fielder's choice, loading the bases with McKenze Tebbs coming up to bat. Tebbs hit a two-RBI single through the right side that brought home Anders and Cressman while Carroll advanced to third after an error by the right fielder. Carroll and Tebbs completed the double steal with Tebbs moving to second and Carroll coming across the plate, giving the Falcons a 4-2 lead. Jaelynn Harbold kept things going for Messiah after hitting an RBI double down the left field line, giving the Falcons a 5-2 lead. 

Lebanon Valley chipped away at the Falcons' lead with one run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Dutchmen started the inning with a single to left field. After a fly out the Falcons brought Rebekah Pais into the circle for Emily Albanese. Pais walked her first batter, putting runners on first and second. After another fly out, the Dutchmen hit a single to left center that brought home their third run of the game to make it 5-3 in favor of Messiah. 

After a quick one, two, three inning for the Falcons' half of the inning, the Dutchmen battled in the bottom of the seventh. Messiah recorded a quick out to start the bottom of the seventh but LVC hit a single to center field. During the next at bat, the runner advanced to second after a wild pitch. An RBI double to center field cut the Falcons' lead in half with the score set at 5-4. A triple to right center brought home the tying run and forced the Falcons to make another pitching change with Madelynn Yannetti coming to the circle. After two intentional walks, the Dutchmen hit an RBI single to right field, defeating the Falcons 6-5.

What's Up Next
The Falcons are next in action on Thursday at 3:00pm in a doubleheader against York College of Pennsylvania.