WASHINGTON, D.C. - Prior to Saturday's doubleheader against Gallaudet, the Messiah softball team had scored just 32 runs this season. In Game One against the Bison, Messiah plated 17 runs in just five innings, scoring multiple runs in all five trips to the plate to bury the Bison by a 17-3, run-rule victory.
Messiah kept rolling with an 8-0 victory in Game Two, needing just six innings to complete the sweep. On the day, Messiah outscored Gallaudet 25-3 and in the process nearly doubled their total offensive production on the season.
Messiah's pitching staff was stellar as well, allowing just three unearned runs on four hits across 11 innings.
Messiah moves to 10-4 on the season and will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on the Arcadia Knights in Glenside for a doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Game One - Messiah defeats Gallaudet 17-3 (5 innings)
The Messiah offense exploded in Game One against the Bison, scoring multiple runs in all five innings en route to a 17-3 victory. Messiah took advantage of three errors from Galludet in the first frame, scoring five first-inning runs.
McKenzie Shannon and
Madeline Gohn delivered the big hits with two-run singles.
Lydia Collison also picked up an RBI with a single to right center.
After
Madison Walter struck out the side, in order, in the bottom of the first, Messiah went right back to work in the second With
Madeline Gohn knocking an RBI single to right field and scoring on an error to give Messiah a 7-0 lead.
In the third a three-run double from
McKenzie Shannon ballooned Messiah's lead to 10 and
Olivia Denmark drove home Shannon moments later to give Messiah an 11-0 lead.
Messiah added three more in the fourth thanks to a two-run triple from
Alexa Burger and a RBI single from
Sierra Emery. Then in the fifth, three more runs hit the board for the Falcons to push their lead all the way to 17-0.
Elianna Litwin and
Joy Hedrick drove home runs in the frame.
Messiah starter,
Madison Walter continued cruising through the Bison's order. Walter faced the minimum through the first four innings, allowing just one runner to reach on an error. In the fifth, Gallaudet recorded their first hit, eventually scoring three unearned runs in the frame.
Despite the late runs from the Bison, Messiah earned the run-rule victory with the game being called after five innings with the Falcons earning the 17-3 win.
Game Two – Messiah defeats Gallaudet 8-0 (6 innings)
The Messiah bats stayed hot in Game Two, scoring three runs in the opening frame and eight total in a second run-shortened game. The Falcons needed six innings to put away the Bison, claiming the 8-0 victory.
While Messiah collected only five hits in Game Two, the Falcons took advantage of nine walks, two hit by pitches, and a trio of Gallaudet errors to push their eight runs across.
The Falcons took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, collecting three hits in the frame.
Kyley Mellage made it a 4-0 game with an RBI double in the second. Messiah added a single run in the third and fourth to take a 6-0 advantage after four frames.
In the sixth, a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly gave the Falcons an 8-0 advantage. After Mesiah's pitching staff hung their sixth-straight zero on the board, Messiah earned an 8-0 run-shortened victory.
In the circle,
Lydia Collison went five strong innings, striking out eight batters while allowing just one hit and issuing no walks.
Maggie Chinnadurai tossed a perfect sixth inning, striking out two.
What's Up Next
With the sweep, the Falcons improve to 10-4 on the season and will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Arcadia to take on the Knights at 4:30 p.m. for a doubleheader.
