GRANTHAM, Pa. - With Messiah trailing by two and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, darkness was quickly creeping in at the Starry Athletic Complex. Pinch hitting, Kasey Caras roped a three-run double over the centerfielder's head to clear the bases and lead the Falcons to an 11-9 victory over the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats in their home opener on Monday afternoon.
 
The Falcons scored in all but two trips to the plate, notching multiple runs in the second, third, and seventh as the game was called for darkness just one batter after Caras' bases clearing double.
 
Both Trent Culver and Ryan Hentschel collected three hits on the day. The duo combined to go 6-10 on the afternoon with three runs scored and two RBI.
 
On the mound, Ben Writer and Derek Freed combined for three scoreless innings in the final three frames with Freed earning the win.
 
Messiah will be back in action on Wednesday when they host the Gettysburg Bullets at 3:00 p.m.
 
Busy Middle Innings
After both teams were held scoreless, despite stranded two runners in the first inning, the Diplomats struck first with three runs in the top of the second. Tom Denlinger singled to center field to chase the first run home and back-to-back two-out hits drove home the next two to give F&M a 3-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Messiah plated a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly from Dylan Symonds and an RBI triple from Clayton Roberts, but the Diplomats got the runs right back in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead.
 
Messiah once again answered, scoring three times in the frame off an RBI double from Colt Price, a groundout from Hunter Brindle, and a Dylan Symonds fielder's choice. Messiah needed just two hits to plate the trio of runs with doubles from Ryan Hentschel and Price. After the frame, the Falcons and Diplomats were tied 5-5.
 
A grand slam by the Diplomats' JJ Freeman in the fourth was his second homer of the afternoon and put the Falcons in a 9-5 hole. Messiah scored single runs in the fourth and fifth to climb back within two at 9-7.
 
Kasey At the Bat
After a scoreless sixth inning for both sides, Messiah needed an unconventional 5-3-2 double play in the seventh inning to end the frame and keep it a two-run game heading into the bottom of the stanza. With darkness creeping in, Messiah led off the seventh inning by loaded the bases with a walk, hit by pitch, and bunt single. Kasey Caras then made his first appearance in the game, pinch hitting with the bases loaded and nobody out.
 
Caras stepped in and delivered the clutch three-run double to straightaway center field. Dalton Miller was the first runner to score, crossing the plate easily. The next two were Billy Davis and Trent Culver. Davis slid into the dish, just ahead of the tag to tie the game at 9-9. Culver was just a step behind him, sliding in moments after Davis. With the catcher not expecting two runners so close together, Culver slid in safely to give Messiah their first lead of the day at 10-9.
 
Ryan Hentschel delivered an RBI double two batters later and the game was called for darkness after Caras scored, giving Messiah the 11-9 victory.
 
In the Box Score
Both Trent Culver and Ryan Hentschel collected three hits in the game while Kasey Caras, Colt Price, and Dylan Symonds contributed multi-RBI games. On the mound, Ben Writer and Derek Freed tossed three scoreless innings to close out the game with Freed earning the victory after a quick seventh inning.
 
For the Diplomats, JJ Freeman had a career day, smacking two home runs, including a grand slam in the fourth. He also knocked his 100th career hit in the contest.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah will be back in action on Wednesday when they host the Gettysburg Bullets at 3:00 p.m. at the Starry Baseball Field. The Bullets defeated the Falcons 13-8 last season on Mar. 27. Messiah jumped out to a 7-0 lead in that game, but the Bullets rallied, scoring eight runs in the sixth to secure the victory.