GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Messiah baseball team swept a doubleheader from the Stevenson Mustangs on a beautiful Saturday afternoon by scores of 3-0 and 6-5. In Game One, Jordan Nichols tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just five hits while striking out seven to lift Messiah to the 3-0 victory. In Game Two, Messiah claimed a 6-5 victory, thanks to some timely hitting and a strong effort on the hill from Ethan Hess.
 
Jarod Bingaman collected four hits on the day to lead the Falcons.
 
Game One - Messiah defeats Stevenson 3-0
Jordan Nichols was stellar, throwing a complete game, five-hit shutout to earn his second win of the season. Nicholas needed just 98 pitches to strike out seven while scattering just five hits and one walk. The bats delivered three runs in support of Nichols with Kyle Wickenheiser hammering a solo home run in the fourth and adding two more in the fifth.
 
In a scoreless game with two outs In the bottom of the fourth, Wichenheiser delivered a solo home run over the right field wall to put the Falcons on the board. The Falcons added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. With a runner on third after a throwing error, Jarod Bingaman reached on a fielder's choice, driving home Trent Culver from third. Josh Hayner followed with an RBI bunt single to bump the Falcons' lead to 3-0.
 
After a three-up, three-down inning in the eighth, Nichols worked around a pair of one-out singles in the seventh to complete the shutout victory.
 
Game Two - Messiah defeats Stevenson 6-5
Messiah jumped all over Stevenson's starting pitcher in the bottom of the first with four runs on four hits to take an early 4-0 lead. Trent Culver started the inning with a hit by pitch and promptly stole second. After a single and walk loaded the bases, Ryan Hentschel and Sam Stewart followed with two more singles to give Messiah a 2-0 lead. Josh Hayner stole home later in the inning and Chris Larose singled up the middle to bring Hentschel home and Messiah led 4-0 after one inning.
 
That 4-0 lead would stand until the top of the third when the Mustangs got on the board with a groundout to short stop. The play was set-up with a failed pickoff attempt to first, sending a runner to third. After the groundball, Messiah's lead was trimmed to three at 4-1. The Mustangs scored three more times in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 4-4. Stevenson loaded the bases with an error and a pair of singles before a bases loaded walk made it a 4-2 game. The very next batter singled up the middle to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Messiah responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead back at 6-4. Ryan Hentschel highlighted the inning with an RBI groundout to the short stop after Bingaman and Hayner started the frame with back-to-back singles. Later in the inning, Messiah executed a first and third play to steal home for the second time in the game, increasing their lead to two at 6-4.
 
Both teams left players on base in the sixth before the Mustangs plated one run and threatened for more in the seventh. Three-straight singles started the inning, scoring one run and putting runners on first and second with no outs for Stevenson. A humpback line drive was picked off the dirt from a diving Bingaman at short stop and he turned to second to double-off the runner for a key double play. The very next batter hit a shallow flyball to right field where defensive replacement Ben Wilson made a diving catch to end the game and give Messiah their second win of the day with a 6-5 victory.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons are back in action on Monday when they host the York Spartans at 3:30 p.m. in a non-conference game.