WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Messiah softball team suffered a road doubleheader sweep at McDaniel College on Wednesday afternoon. The Falcons dropped both games by narrow one-run margins, losing Game One, 2-1, and falling short in Game Two, 1-0. Despite the two losses,
McKenzie Shannon launched her first home run of the season in the first contest as
Madison Walter (6.0 IP, 7K) and
Lydia Collison (6.2 IP, 6K) each had strong pitching performances for the Falcons.
The doubleheader sweep drops Messiah's 2022 overall record to 12-8 (2-0 MAC Commonwealth).
Game One – McDaniel 2, Messiah 1
The Falcons were narrowly edged in Game One, 2-1. Despite the loss,
Madison Walter pitched a phenomenal game, tossing six complete innings while striking out seven batters.
The Green Terror got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning, taking advantage of an RBI-double from Isabella Sylvester. The run was unearned following an error from the Messiah outfield.
Trailing, 1-0, entering the fourth inning,
McKenzie Shannon leveled the contest with a single swing of the bat. The sophomore catcher launched a home run to left field, her first home run of the season. All of a sudden, the Falcons were back in the game, tied with McDaniel at one run each.
The Falcons threatened to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning, advancing a runner to second base with just one out.
Madeline Gohn led off the inning with a single through the right side, summoning
Joy Hedrick as a pinch runner. Hedrick advanced to second base following a sacrifice bunt from
Sarah Lippin. With both
Kyley Mellage and
Alexa Burger due up with a runner in scoring position, Messiah was unable to scratch across the go-ahead run behind strong pitching from McDaniel's Krista Waller.
The Green Terror broke the 1-1 deadlock with one out in the sixth inning when Paytyn Hazelton hit a home run to center field. McDaniel jumped ahead, 2-1, and had just three outs to earn the victory. Walter was able to navigate her way out of the inning, giving Messiah a chance to level the game with a run, but Waller retired the Falcons in order in the top of the seventh. Messiah fell in the opening game of the doubleheader, 2-1.
In addition to Shannon's home run, both Burger and Gohn hit safely in the contest.
Game Two – McDaniel 1, Messiah 0
Messiah experienced another heartbreak in Game Two as the Green Terror scored the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Collison was the bright spot for the Falcons in Game Two, tossing an impressive 6.2 innings, striking out a total of six batters.
Messiah did not have a baserunner reach until the fourth inning when Shannon scattered a one-out single to center field, the sophomore catcher's second hit of the doubleheader. Shannon advanced to second, but the Falcons were unable to score Shannon in the frame.
The game remained scoreless as Collison continued to pitch well for the Falcons. Entering the seventh inning, the two sides were knotted up in a scoreless stalemate. Messiah threatened once again in the top half of the inning, putting runners on second and third base with just one out.
Jaden Keister recorded an out on a bunt attempt and
Elianna Litwin popped up in the following at bat as the Falcons came away empty-handed.
The Green Terror were able to scratch across the game-clinching run in the bottom of the seventh as Messiah fell in the second contest, 1-0.
What's Next
The Falcons have their home-opener this Saturday, April 2, hosting Lebanon Valley College for a conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Starry Softball Field.
