GRANTHAM, Pa. - A pair of big innings for the Dickinson Red Devils downed the Messiah baseball team on Thursday afternoon at the Starry Athletic Complex. The Falcons scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first on a Kyle Wickenheiser single, but Dickinson tied the game in the third before platting six in the fourth and nine more in the eighth to claim the 16-1 victory.

Messiah threatened multiple times in the later innings but, was unable to score outside of the single from Wickenheiser in the first.

For Dickinson, three players collected multi-hit games with Max Brown delivering the big blow in the eighth with a three-run home run to left center.

Messiah will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Annville to begin a three-game conference series with the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Tied Early On
Ryan Hentschel started the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff double to left center and later stole third before coming in to score on a single by Kyle Wickenheiser through the left side. The run gave the Falcons the early lead at 1-0, but the Red Devils quickly tied the score in the top of the third with a two-out run-scoring single by Max Brown.

Messiah looked as if they were going to take the lead back in the bottom of the third with back-to-back bunt singles from Ryan Hentschel and Jarod Bingaman. With runners on second and third, Josh Hayner walked to load the bases with no outs. Messiah left the sacks full after an infield fly, a strike out, and a ground out ended the frame.

Dickinson Turns In Big Innings
The game remained tied until the top of the sixth where the Red Devils unloaded for the first of two huge innings in the contest. The first seven batters in the sixth reached base with two bases loaded hit-by-pitches and a two run single highlighting the frame. In the inning, Dickinson scored six runs on four hits while taking advantage of a walk and two hit-by-pitches from the Falcons.

After Messiah left the bases loaded in the sixth and stranded two more in the seventh, the Red Devils exploded for nine runs in the top of the eighth. Dickinson took advantage of five free passes from Messiah with three hit-by-pitches and a pair of walks. A three-run home run from Max Brown highlighted he inning.

Messiah stranded a two-out pinch hit single from Kasey Caras in the bottom of the eighth before the game was called fro darkness in the middle of the ninth, giving Dickinson the 16-1 victory.

What's Up Next
After the lopsided loss, Messiah falls to 5-11 overall and will be back in action for Friday when they take on Lebanon Valley at 3:30 p.m. in Annville.