GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Messiah baseball team used a pair of six-run innings and two more frames of three runs to claim an 18-16 come-from-behind victory over the Mount Aloysius Mounties on Tuesday afternoon. Messiah trailed 9-3 heading to the bottom of the fourth, but plated a half dozen runs to level the game at 9-9.
 
After the Mounties scored four across the sixth and seventh, Messiah pulled within one at 13-12 after a Colt Price two-run homer and a first and third double steal. Mount Aloysius answered with two runs in the eighth to go up by three, but a six-run bottom of the eighth gave the Falcons an 18-15 lead.
 
Despite a bases loaded walk in the ninth, Messiah held on for the 18-16 victory in a nine-inning game that lasted just north of four hours.

Messiah will be back in the action on Thursday in a home game against Widener at 3:30 p.m. The game against the Pride will open a three-game conference series that will conclude on Saturday with a doubleheader in Chester.

Plenty of Early Runs
The Falcons and Mounties scored a total of 18 runs across the first four frames of Tuesday's contest. After Mount Aloysius plated two in the top of the first, Messiah counted with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double from Josh Hayner, a passed ball, and an RBI ground out from Chris Larose.

The Mounties scored five times in the third and added two more runs in the fourth to take a 9-3 lead. Just as they did in the first, Messiah swiftly responded with six runs in the bottom of the fourth with a half dozen runs to tie the game at 9-9.

Messiah did their damage in the fourth on just four hits, taking advantage of two walks and two hit by pitches. Chris Larose drove home a pair of runs in the frame on a double down the left field line while Kasey Caras, Conner Reyer, Ryan Hentschel, and Sam Stewart each picked up an RBI in the inning.

Back-And-Forth Finish
Mount Aloysius broke the 9-9 tie in the top of the sixth with a sacrifice fly. Three more runs from the Mounties in the seventh increased their lead to four at 13-9. Messiah then scored three runs in the bottom of the frame thanks in large-part to the first career home run from Colt Price with a two-run shot to left field. Price's homer brought home Trent Culver, who singled to lead off the inning. Later in the inning, Messiah executed a double steal with runners on first and third to bring Kyle Wickenheiser home from third, pulling the Falcons within one at 13-12.

The Mounties added two more runs in the top of the eighth to extend their lead to 15-12, but the Falcons turned in arguably their best inning of the game with seven hits and six runs to flip the script and take an 18-15 lead. Sam Stewart led off the inning with a towering solo home run down the left field line to make it 15-13 before the Falcons got their hit parade going with two outs. Messiah registered five-straight two-out hits to plate five run. Back-to-back doubles from Hayner and Reyer started the run and Jimmy Kustra followed with a pinch-hit single. Clayton Roberts then doubled to left center and Ryan Hentschel followed up with a single to center field. Each of those five hits drove home runs and Messiah held an 18-15 lead when the dust settled at the end of the inning.

Heading to the ninth, Messiah turned the ball to Chase Peiffer for the save. Things were a little bumpy with the Mounties loading the bases with a pair of walks and a single. A bases loaded walk allowed a run to score, but Peiffer and the Falcons escaped the jam by catching a runner stealing and earning a fly out to end the game.

Ben Wilson tossed the eighth inning for the Falcons, allowing two runs on two hits and earning the first win of his career.

What's Up Next
Messiah claimed the 18-16 victory and will next be in action on Thursday when they host the Widener Pride at 3:30 p.m. to begin an important three-game conference series.