ASTON, Pa. - The Messiah softball team split their doubleheader Wednesday on a chilly afternoon at Neumann University. The Falcons won game one 3-1 before dropping the second game 3-2. Game two was called after five innings due to darkness.

Madison Walter picked up her second win as a Falcon in the circle in game one, throwing a complete game. She struck out 10 Knights, while giving up five hits and one run. The Falcons found their runs thanks to a Jordan Holman double, Neumann error, and Jaelynn Harbold single to lead Messiah to the 3-1 win.

In game two, Brynne Baker got Messiah out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first off the strength of a homerun before the Knights immediately tied it in the bottom half at 1-1. Neumann grabbed a 3-1 lead before Messiah cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fifth on a fielder's choice, but it did not prove to be enough after the game was called due to darkness.

Messiah is scheduled to go to Clermont, Fla. to play during Spring Break, starting on Sunday. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the plans might change. Stay tuned to GoMessiah.com for updates throughout the next few days.

Game 1, Messiah Defeats Neumann 3-1
Messiah jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game one in the top of the first inning. A McKenzie Tebbs leadoff walk proved to come back to bite the Knights. Tebbs stole second and scored on a Jordan Holman double.

The first two batters in the bottom of the third grounded out for Neumann, putting the Falcons in a good spot in the inning. However, a two out single from Brooke Figiel was followed by a Kate Korte triple to knot the game up at 1-1.

The Falcons put runners on second and third in the top of the fourth inning with the help of two Joy Hedrick stolen bases and one Olivia Denmark stolen base. Hedrick pinch ran for Jaelynn Harbold after she singled to begin the inning. Messiah's inning then fizzled out with no runs crossing the plate.

Another McKenzie Tebbs walk put Messiah in a good position once again in the top of the fifth. A Karlee Stocksdale walk put runners on first and second before a double steal turned into a throwing error by Neumann to allow Tebbs to score the go-ahead run. The Falcons then hit two straight singles to bring in another run and make the score 3-1. A hit by pitch loaded the bases but no more runs came in for Messiah.

Both teams threatened to score throughout the remainder of the game, but neither were able to as Messiah came away with the 3-1 win. The Falcons were bandits on the base paths, swiping seven bags in game one.

Game 2, Neumann Defeats Messiah 3-2 (Five Innings)
Brynne Baker, who was just the second hitter of the game, got Messiah off to a great start in game two. She homered down the left field line to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

A Falcon error allowed Neumann to put a runner on second base to begin the bottom of the first. The Knights would get the run in and tie the game at 1-1 on a Morgan Fitzpatrick single. Fitzpatrick would get into scoring position after another hit, but Neumann could not muster any more runs in the inning.

 In the top of the second inning, Isabel Seise started the inning with a single, before Hedrick pinch ran and found herself on third after a wild pitch and a fly out. However, the Falcons failed to get any runs across.

Messiah had runners in scoring position once again in the third, but could not convert. The Knights then used a Falcon error to help score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third.

Neumann found another run in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 3-1. Elianna Litwin then singled and stole second to put Messiah in scoring position in the top of the fifth. She advanced to third on a ground out before scoring on a fielder's choice and making it 3-2.

Messiah was not able to get the tying run across as they fell 3-2 after the game was called due to darkness.
 
The Falcons move to 3-5 overall on the season after the doubleheader split.

As mentioned, the Falcons are scheduled to go to Clermont, Fla. over Spring Break, with play starting this Sunday but due to the recent COVID-19 concerns, the schedule may change. Check out GoMessiah.com for updates over the coming days and weeks.