GRANTHAM, Pa. - On a windy day in south-central Pennsylvania, Jimmy Kustra tripled to straight-away center field in the bottom of the fourth inning to bring the Falcons even with the York Spartans at 4-4. The Spartans outscored the Falcons 10-1 across the final five frames to earn the 14-5 victory. Messiah's offense was led by Kustra who drove home two runs and scored another with a 2-4 effort at the plate.

York scored in five different innings, including a separate frames with three, four, and five runs. The sixth inning was the turning point in the game, when the Spartans scored five runs on just three hits, taking advantage of two walks and a hit by pitch to extend a 5-4 lead into a 10-4 advantage. Messiah plated a single run in the bottom of the frame, but stranded a pair of runners. Four insurance runs from the Spartans in the ninth got them to their final score of 14-5.

The Falcons are back in action on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. when they host Mount Aloysius College in Grantham at 3:30 p.m.

Tied Through Four
In the top of the first, the Spartans scored a run without the use of a hit thanks to a walk, hit by pitch along, wild pitch, and balk to take a 1-0 lead. The Falcons responded in the bottom half of the second on a Colt Price double to right center. Price's one-out knock brought home Nick Godwin, who reached on an error earlier in the frame.

With the game tied 1-1, the Spartans scored three runs in the top of the third. After three-straight walks loaded the bases, an infield single, a hit by pitch, and a balk pushed the three runs across to give York the 4-1 advantage.

Just as they did in the second, Messiah responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third. Nick Godwin delivered a two-out, two-run single through the left side, allowing Kustra and Jarod Bingaman to score. An inning later, Messiah tied the game at 4-4 with a pair of extra-base hits. Clayton Roberts dropped a double down the right-field line and two batters later Kustra lined a triple to center to tie the game.

York Pulls Away
A wild pitch in the top of the fifth gave the Spartans the lead, before a five-run frame in the sixth put York in front 10-4. Runs scored on a fielder's choice, a single, and back-to-back doubles.

Kustra grounded out in the bottom of the sixth to score Price from third after he reached on a leadoff single. The run cut the deficit to five at 10-5.

Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh and eighth before the Spartans plated four runs on four hits and one error to take a 14-5 lead. The Falcons put a pair of runners on in the bottom half of the ninth, but were unable to score the runs and York claimed the 14-5 victory.

What's Up Next
Messiah will host another non-conference game tomorrow afternoon when Mount Aloysius College comes to town. First pitch scheduled for 3:30 pm.