FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - A day after overcoming a 6-0 deficit on Friday night, the Messiah baseball team climbed out of a 5-1 hole against the Washington College Shoremen on Saturday morning to earn an 8-5 victory. In the nightcap, Messiah scored first in the fourth inning, but fell by a 10-1 final to finish their weekend trip to North Carolina with a 2-1 record.
Messiah moves to 3-2 on the season and will be back in action on Mar. 1 when they travel to Eastern Mennonite.
Messiah defeats Washington College - 8-5
The Shoremen struck first with a run in the first and two in the third to build a 3-0 lead. Washington's Danny Sheeler contributed two RBI during the early innings with a double in the first and a single in the third.
After stranding the bases loaded in the second, Messiah got on the board with a
Dean Carver RBI double in the fourth. The two-bagger chased
Evan Wagaman in and the Falcons cut the lead to 3-1. The Shoremen immediately responded with two runs in the fifth thanks to an RBI double from Chris Baker and a sacrifice fly from CJ Gillmer.
In the bottom of the frame, it was Messiah's turn to put up a crooked number, scoring three to pull within one at 5-4.
Clayton Roberts picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice for the first run and them Messiah plated two an error by the right fielder that would have ended the inning.
After
Kenny Runkel turned down the side in order in the sixth, Messiah plated two in the bottom of the frame and took a 6-5 lead. With one out, Messiah loaded the bases with a single, a walk, and an intentional walk.
Sam Zercher reached on a fielder's choice to tie the game and then a wild pitch plated the go ahead run, giving the Falcons a 6-5 lead.
In the eighth, Messiah put two runners on with back-to-back walks and then on a double steal, the catcher's throw went into left field allowing
Reed Wagner to trot home. Moments later a wild pitch allowed
Kasey Caras to score and give the Falcons an 8-5 lead.
In the ninth,
Kenny Runkel worked around a one-out walk to give Messiah their second-straight come-from-behind victory.
Messiah picked up RBIs from
Dean Carver,
Clayton Roberts, and
Sam Zercher as they win their third-straight game and improve to 3-1 on the young season.
On the mound,
Kenny Runkel tossed four scoreless frames in relief to earn the victory. Runkel allowed just one hit and three walks while striking out six and earning his first career victory.
Arcadia defeats Messiah - 10-1
In the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader, Messiah's comeback train ran out of steam as the Arcadia Knights earned a 10-1 victory over the Falcons. Messiah was first on the board, scoring in the fourth inning.
Joshua Ammons ripped a one-out double to left center and stole third base. On the steal, the catcher's throw went into left field. Ammons bounced up and hustled home for the first run of the game.
That was the last run the Falcons would score in the contest as Arcadia responded with seven runs across the fourth and fifth frames. Two more runs came home in the seventh and another in the eighth to get to the 10-1 final.
Messiah picked up four hits in the contest with Ammons and
Kasey Caras both notching doubles while
Dustin Isanogle and
Dylan Beard each knocked a single.
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action on Mar. 1 when they travel to Harrisonburg, Va. to take on the Eastern Mennonite Royals at 3:00 p.m.
