HUNTINGDON, Pa. - It was a back-and-forth battle for the entirety of Wednesday's non-conference game between Messiah baseball and the Juniata Eagles. Unfortunately for the Falcons, it was the Eagles that scored the final run of the ballgame on a walk-off hit by pitch in the bottom of the ninth to lift Juniata over Messiah 13-12.
 
Offensively, six different Falcons drove home runs in the game with Conner Reyer and Jarod Bingaman driving home three each with Reyer connecting on the first two home runs of his career. The senior outfielder connected for a two-run shot in the first and later delivered a solo homer in the fifth.
 
Messiah moves to 9-17 overall and will be back in action on Friday when they travel to Stevenson to begin a three-game conference series. First pitch on Friday is slated for 3:30 p.m.

Falcons Off to a Quick Start
The Falcons got off to a hot start, tallying four runs in the first inning. The scoring began with a single up the middle by Kasey Caras, plating Trent Culver, who reached earlier in the inning on a leadoff walk. Bingaman later scored via a sacrifice fly and the inning was capped off by a two-run home run by Conner Reyer, the senior's first career home-run.  

The Eagles Strike Back
In the fourth inning, the Juniata Eagles scored five runs to tie the game at 7-7 going into the fifth. The Eagles scored off a ground out, plating Hunter Price for the their third run of the afternoon. The Eagles would continue to score after their third run, with a score from a single to short, and a double down the left field line by Larry Corle, sending Devyn Carper and Joshua Gary past home for a two-run double.

Falcons and Eagles Trade Blows
Throughout the next five innings, the two teams mirrored each other by trading tallies back and forth. The Falcons fifth inning was highlighted by a solo home-run from Conner Reyer, his second home-run of the ballgame. Reyer's second career homer gave Messiah an 8-7 lead over Juniata.

The sixth inning saw the Falcons score two runs, giving them a 10-9 lead going into bottom of the sixth after Juniata had tied the game 9-9 in the bottom of the fifth. After the Eagles grabbed an 11-10 lead, scoring two at the bottom of the sixth, Chris LaRose hit a solo home-run to once again tie the game, this time at 11-11 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Just as they did in the three innings prior, Juniata responded with a single run in the seventh, once again taking the lead. With the Falcons trailing 12-11 heading to the ninth, Chris LaRose doubled down the right field line, scoring Clayton Roberts to tie the game at 12-12.

The Eagles would score one final run on a bases loaded hit by pitch, sending Colton Kubicki in for the game-winning run, give Juniata the 13-12 victory.

What's Up Next
The Falcons travel to Stevenson University on Friday, Apr. 12 to begin a three-game conference series against the Mustangs. First pitch on Friday is slated for 3:30 p.m.