Owings Mills, Md. – The Messiah softball team swept a road doubleheader against Stevenson behind two stellar pitching performances, clinching Game One, 9-4, and securing the sweep in Game Two, 4-1.
Madison Walter threw seven innings in Game One for the complete game, striking out five batters, as
Brynne Baker matched her performance in Game Two, tossing seven innings, striking out three batters. Freshman infielder
Alexa Burger was the offensive star for the Falcons in her collegiate debut, knocking in a game-high three RBIs in Game One from a three-run blast over the center field fence in the second inning.
Game One
The Falcons were on the board first in the top half of the first inning, scoring their first run of the season with a
Karlee Stocksdale groundout that plated
Brynne Baker for a 1-0 edge.
The top of the second inning was an offensive explosion for Messiah, scoring four runs in the frame to take a commanding, 5-0 early lead over the Mustangs. The highlight of the inning came from Burger, a 3-run blast over the centerfield fence in just her second at-bat as a Falcon.
Elianna Litwin tallied an RBI in the top of the fourth inning, grounding out to second, prompting
Olivia Denmark to cruise home. During the play, Stevenson committed a throwing error to allow
McKenzie Shannon to score, building the Messiah lead to 7-2.
The Falcons tacked on two more insurance runs in the top half of the sixth inning, with Baker taking advantage of a Stevenson wild pitch, and Shannon knocking home her second run-batted-in on a groundout to shortstop, scoring teammate
Paige Eakes.
Walter pitched brilliantly early on, not allowing a runner to reach base until the first batter of the third inning. The junior pitcher proved durable, completing the seven-inning opening game of the doubleheader with five strikeouts. Over the seven innings, Walter allowed nine hits and four runs, keeping the Mustangs at bay to earn the victory.
Game Two
The Falcons did not wait to get on the board in Game Two. Burger led off the game off with a single, her second leadoff hit of the day. The freshman infielder came around to score off a Mustangs throwing error, giving the Falcons a prompt 1-0 advantage in the early going. Baker had the big knock in the inning, a two-run single through the left side. After the strong offensive start, Messiah owned a 3-0 lead.
Isabel Seis tallied her first RBI of the season in the top of the second, a single to centerfield, as the senior's second hit of the game increased the Falcons' lead to 4-0. The four runs that Messiah scratched across in the opening two innings were all that the squad needed, as Game Two of the doubleheader was led by another spectacular solo pitching performance.
Baker matched Walter's Game One complete game pitching performance, twirling seven complete innings. Allowing just one run on four hits, Baker struck out three batters while earning her first win in the circle in the 2021 season. The sophomore pitcher made lasting contributions on Game Two, as her first inning, two-run single proved to be the game-winning hit for the Falcons.
In Game Two, the Falcons laced nine hits to Stevenson's three.
Lydia Collison and Denmark each went 2-for-3 at the dish, as Messiah improved its record to 2-0.
What's Up Next
Messiah (2-0) and Stevenson (3-3) clash tomorrow, Mar. 13, in Grantham, Pa. for another conference twin-bill. The doubleheader marks the first action for the Falcons at Starry Softball Field since 2019.
