GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Susquehanna River Hawks scored seven times in the top of the tenth inning to break a 6-6 tie through nine innings en route to a 13-6 victory over the Messiah Falcons on Tuesday afternoon. The Falcons rallied back from a 6-1 deficit with four runs across the sixth and seventh before scoring the game-tying run off a single from Ryan Hentschel with two outs in the ninth.
 
The RBI single forced extra innings where the the River Hawks scored seven runs with two outs to claim the 13-6 victory.
 
Hentschel collected three of Messiah's 10 hits with a 3-5 effort at the dish. Josh Hayner drove home a pair of runs for the Falcons on the day.
 
Messiah is back in action on Wednesday afternoon when they travel to Juniata for a game against the Eagles at 3:30 p.m.

Susquehanna Takes Control
Messiah ran into a bit of bad luck in the top of the first inning. After a pair of quick outs, a single down the right field line put a runner on first. It appeared Josh Monturo got out of the inning when a lazy fly ball to left was squeezed for the third out of the inning, but prior to hte pitch a balk was called, nullifying the out and extending the at bat. Four singles and a walk followed, allowing four runs to score for the River Hawks.

Messiah plated a run in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit thanks to a leadoff walk and a pair of stolen bases from Trent Culver. With one away, Josh Hayner grounded out to second allowed Culver to score and close the gap to 4-1 after a full frame.

After Messiah and Susquehanna traded zeros in the second, third, and fourth innings, the River Hawks scored a pair of runs on five hits to extend their lead to five runs at 6-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Falcons Battle Back
Messiah began chipping into the lead with a run in the sixth. Kyle Wickenheiser led off the frame with a single to right field that was misplayed, allowing him to advance to second. After a wild pitch moved Wickenheiser to third, Hunter Brindle hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring Messiah within four at 6-2.

After Luke Blasick turned Susquehanna away in order in the seventh, the Falcons' offense went to work with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the frame. A double, walk, and single loaded the bases with no one out and Hayner picked up his second RBI of the game with a single up the middle to make it a 6-3 game.

Wickenheiser then bounced a ball to third that was playable for the third baseman, but he looked home before he had control and the ball bounded into left field. Two runs scored on the play, allowing Messiah to trim the deficit down to one at 6-5. Despite the runners moving into scoring position on a wild pitch, a fielder's choice, fly out, and groundout ended the inning with Messiah trailing by one.

With two away in the bottom of the ninth and a runner on second base, Ryan Hentschel came through with a single up the middle to tie the game at 7-7, ultimately forcing extra innings.

River Hawks Win in Extras
In the top of the tenth, Susquehanna loaded the bases with no outs thanks to a walk, hit by pitch, and single. Messiah's Adrian Parker looked like he was going to wiggle out of danger, getting the next two batters with a force out at the plate and a strike out looking, but a bases loaded walk broke the tie and opened the flood gates for the River Hawks to score seven two-out runs in the inning and run away with the 13-6 victory after Messiah went down in order in the bottom of the inning.

What's Up Next
Messiah continues their busy week with a non-conference game at Juniata tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m.