HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Messiah baseball traveled south to Virginia to take on the Eastern Mennonite Royals on Thursday afternoon. The Royals led the Falcons 7-5 heading into the sixth inning, but Messiah responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game before exploding for six runs in both the seventh to earn the 13-7 victory. The game was called for darkness in the middle of the eighth after the Falcons tacked on six more runs, but the score reverted back to the final completed inning of play, giving Messiah the 13-7 victory.
 
Six different Falcons collected multi-RBI games with Kyle Wickenheiser, Hunter Brindle, and Josh Hayner each knocking two-run homers in the victory.
 
With the win, Messiah moves to 4-1 on the season and is next scheduled to take the field on Saturday when they travel to Fredricksburg, Va. For a doubleheader with Mary Washington, beginning at 12:00 p.m.
 
Starting Off with a Bang
After a two-out single by Josh Hayner in the top of the first, Kyle Wickenheiser put Messiah on the board with a two-run homer into the trees beyond the left centerfield wall for the first of three two-run homers for the Falcons.
 
Hunter Brindle knocked the second of the three with a line drive down the leftfield line that got out in the third inning to put Messiah up 4-0. After the Royals scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, Conner Reyer chased a run home with a groundout in the top of the fifth to give Messiah a 5-2 advantage.
 
Royals Take the Lead
After Messiah took the three-run lead, Eastern Mennonite quickly countered back with five runs in the bottom of the frame to take their first lead of the game at 7-5. The five-run frame was highlighted by a sacrifice fly from Brett Lindsay, a two-run single from Corey Willis, and a run-scoring single by Jordan Jones.
 
Hayner Answers
Josh Hayner did not allow the Royals to hold the lead for long, hammering his second career home run in the top of the sixth inning. Trent Culver started the sixth inning with a one-out walk and after a groundout moved him to second base, he was able to trot home on the two-run blast over the right-centerfield wall. The homer tied the game at 7-7 and set the stage for the Falcons to pull away in the late innings.
 
Offensive Outburst
After Hansel stranded a pair of Royals on the bases in the bottom of the sixth, Messiah exploded for six runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to take a commanding 19-7 lead. Unfortunately, the game was called for darkness in the middle of the eighth inning and the scored reverted back to the end of the seventh, wiping a half dozen runs off the board for Messiah. As a result, Messiah claimed the 13-7 victory.
 
In the seventh, the final frame before the game was called, the Falcons scored all six runs with two outs thanks to two-run knocks from Jarod Bingaman (double), Clayton Roberts (single), and Billy Davis (double).

What's Up Next
The Falcons will play their next games in Virginia when they travel to the University of Mary Washington on Saturday for a doubleheader with the Eagles, beginning at 12:00 p.m.