YORK, Pa. – The Messiah softball team dropped both contests of a twin-bill at York College (Pa.), getting edged in Game One, 1-0, and falling short in Game Two, 5-1. Senior Isabel Seise knocked home the lone RBI for the Falcons in the second contest, with junior pitcher Madison Walter tossing a phenomenal, one-run pitching effort in the opening game.
 
Game One
The opening game of the doubleheader was as closely-contested as it could be. The game went the distance and spilled into extra innings, with the hosts clinching the victory on a walk-off walk in the bottom of the eighth inning. Walter went the length for the Falcons in the circle, striking out a season-high nine batters. The junior was tagged with the loss (1-1), but allowed just four hits, also a season-best mark. Walter has now totaled 22.2 innings pitched on the season, ranking first in the MAC Commonwealth amongst pitchers who have thrown at least 21.2 innings.
 
Messiah had four batters hit safely in Game One. Seise, freshman McKenzie Shannon, sophomore Elianna Litwin, and junior Karlee Stocksdale each contributed base hits for the Falcons. The first four Messiah batters were retired before Seise ripped a single through the right side. York pitcher pitcher Taylor Lindsay struck out the following two Falcon batters, part of her complete game, eight-inning, 13-strikeout performance. Taylor turned in a spectacular performance, as Messiah was unable to spark any momentum offensively, falling, 1-0.
 
The Game One setback dropped the Falcons to a 2-3 record in 2021 MAC Commonwealth competition ahead of the second contest of the day.
 
Game Two
Looking to bounce back, the offense was relatively quiet for Messiah in Game Two. The Falcons recorded five hits in the game, with freshman infielder Paige Eakes going 2-for-3 at the dish. With a single in the first inning, Eakes was the game's first baserunner, snapping an 0-for-9 skid at the plate. Joining Eakes in lacing hits were Seise, sophomore Brynne Baker, and Litwin, each tallying one hit. With a single up the middle in the top of the third inning, Litwin has now hit safely in three of four games she has appeared in this season.
 
The Spartans jumped ahead early, plating three runs in the first three inning, before a Emily Netterville two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning made it a 5-0 ballgame. Seise's run-scoring double came in the seventh inning, cutting the deficit, 5-1, but it was not enough, as the Falcons dropped Game Two. The 5-1 loss dropped Messiah to a 2-4 record, as York, in its season-opening competition, improve to 2-0.
 
A pair of junior pitchers turned in a solid performance in the circle for the Falcons. Baker made the start, pitching five innings, giving up four earned runs on seven hits. Rebekah Pais relieved her teammate, tossing a scoreless sixth inning, fanning two batters. Baker, despite taking the loss (1-2), struck out six batters, upping her season strikeout total to 10.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah returns to action tomorrow, Mar. 21, when they look for redemption against visiting York College (Pa.) in a doubleheader, set to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Starry Softball Field.