CLERMONT, Fla. – The Messiah softball team notched two extra inning victories in two contests in Clermont, Fla., on Tuesday afternoon and evening. The Falcons bested Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in their first game, 2-1 (8 inn.), and topped Alfred University in the second contest, 3-2 (8 inn.). Madison Walter earned both victories for Messiah as McKenzie Shannon led the squad offensively, producing three RBI on two run-scoring hits.
 
With the two wins, Messiah improves its 2022 overall record to 6-2.
 
Game One – Messiah 2, RPI 1 (8 inn.)
Walter made her second start in as many days in Game One against the Engineers. The senior pitcher sat down the first seven RPI batters, highlighted by winning a nine-pitch battle with Brooke Sroczinski for the final out of the top of the second frame.
 
The Falcons recorded their first hit in the bottom of the second inning, a one-out, hustle infield single from Olivia Denmark, the junior's third hit of the season. Messiah was unable to advance the runner following a fielder's choice and swinging strikeout from Kyley Mellage and Elianna Litwin, respectively. Through two frames, Messiah and the Engineers were knotted up at 0-0.
 
Messiah broke the deadlock in the bottom of the third as McKenzie Shannon ripped an RBI-single up the middle to put the Falcons ahead, 1-0. The two-out, run-scoring hit followed some small ball from Messiah, advancing Sarah Lippin to third on bunts from Alexa Burger and Ali Wagner. Lippin led off the inning with a leadoff infield single, her first hit of the season. Jaden Keister worked a two-out, 11-pitch walk, but RPI escaped the jam with a strikeout.
 
Through three innings, the Falcons led the Engineers, 1-0, outhitting their opponents, 3-1. Messiah threatened once again in the bottom of the fourth inning, putting two runners on base. Messiah was unable to come up with the big hit as Elena Rosas and Burger were retired in consecutive fashion to close the frame.
 
However, Walter continued to deal, recording her third strikeout of the game to end the top of the fifth frame. In the bottom half of the inning, Wagner was struck by a pitch to leadoff. Advancing to second base on a bunt from Shannon, Madeline Gohn was just a few feet away from a two-run homer, flying out to deep right field to end the inning.
 
Despite striking out the side in the top of the sixth inning, the Engineers came back to tie the game in the top of the seventh. The Engineers' leadoff batter reached base with a bunt single, advancing to second base on a fielder's choice in the following at-bat. Srocczinski provided the clutch hit for RPI, lacing a single to right field, scoring the tying run. Walter was able to escape the jam, giving the Falcons a chance to win on a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
With two runners on and two outs, Hannah gave the ball a ride to deep center field. The RPI centerfielder backtracked, making the catch on the warning track as the Falcons and Engineers were headed for extra innings. Messiah recorded two hits in the bottom of the seventh inning, coming up just short of the game-winning run.
 
In extra innings, a runner is to be placed on second base to begin the inning, giving Walter an immediate jam to work out of. The senior pitcher navigated the situation well, putting out the first batter with a bunt. With the go-ahead run just 60 feet away for RPI, Litwin made a phenomenal grab on a hot-shot liner, nearly doubling up the runner at second base to escape the inning. The defensive play proved to be a big momentum-swing as Walter struck out the next batter, once again giving the Falcons a chance to win in the bottom half of the inning.
Dyer began the inning on second base, advancing to third on a bunt from Gohn. Spinosa pinch-hit for Denmark, plating the game-winning run with an RBI-single.
 
In the momentous win for the Falcons, six different players recorded hits, including a multi-hit performance from Shannon (2-for-3).
 
Game Two - Messiah 3, Alfred 2 (8 inn.)
Following an exciting first game of the day, Messiah had a chance to sweep its Tuesday schedule with a win over Alfred. With the game delayed an hour, the two sides got underway as Lydia Collison made her fourth start of the season.
 
Alfred's Arden Hatch made her second start of the season for the Saxons. Hatch struck out the Messiah side in the top of the first inning and retired the first two batters of the second inning before Paige Eakes earned a two-out walk, the Falcons' first base runner of the game. Kyley Mellage was up to the plate next, swinging at the third offering and grounding out to the pitcher.
 
In the bottom of the second inning, Alfred advanced a runner to second with two outs, put Collison induced an inning-ending popup to Burger in the second base hole. The two sides were scoreless through two frames.
 
The Falcons had a big offensive showing in the third inning, taking a 2-0 advantage after a laced double down the left field from Shannon. Both Spinosa and Burger reached base on consecutive bunt singles, setting up the sophomore catcher for the big run-scoring knock.
 
Alfred had an immediate answer in the bottom half of the inning, plating two runs on two hits to level the score at 2-2. The inning featured a five-minute rain delay.
 
The fourth inning proved to be a scoreless frame as Collison notched two strikeouts, upping her game total to five. The Falcons went down in order in the top of the fifth as Maggie Chinnadurai entered the circle for the Falcons in relief, making her second relief appearance in as many days. Chinnadurai issued a one-two-three inning in the bottom half of the fifth, getting Saxon batters to fly out, pop out, and fly out, respectively.
 
Messiah used some good defense to get out of the sixth inning, turning a 6-4-3 double play. Dyer corralled a tough grounder and tossed to Burger for the double-play putout as the two sides entered the final inning with nothing to separate them, tied at 2-2.
 
The Falcons went down in order in the top of the seventh as the Saxons threatened to plate the winning run in the bottom half of the inning. Alfred had the winning run on first base when Walter came in to relieve Chinnadurai. Walter got the job done, inducing an inning-ending groundout. Once again, Messiah was headed for extra innings.
 
Messiah did not wait long to produce a run in extra innings as Burger bunted Spinosa, who started the inning on second base, over to third base. Placing the go-ahead run just 60 feet away, the Falcons cashed in on a wild pitch to take a 3-2 lead. Walter shut the door on the Saxons in the bottom of the eight as Messiah prevailed over Alfred in extra innings, 3-2.
 
What's Next
Messiah returns to the field tomorrow morning, taking on the United States Coast Guard Academy at 11:00 a.m. Following that contest, the Falcons will clash with Penn State Berks at 4:00 p.m. Both games will be held at Hancock Field in Clermont, Fla.