CLERMONT, Fla. – The Messiah softball team competed well in its Wednesday slate of The Spring Games at Hancock Field in Clermont, Fla. The Falcons edged Penn. State Berks, 3-2, in the opening game of the day, and narrowly fell to Mount Union, 2-1, in eight innings.
 
Messiah had many highlights throughout the day, including a clutch pinch-hit appearance from Elena Rosas, Maggie Chinnadurai's first-career win in the circle, and two multi-hit games from Alexa Burger.
 
With the Wednesday split, Messiah's 2022 overall record stands at 7-3.
 
Game One – Messiah 3, Penn. State Berks 2
Lydia Collison, after tossing four strong innings in Messiah's extra-innings victory last night, made the start for the Falcons. Collison pitched well, tossing 5.2 innings, striking out three batters.
 
Messiah struck first in the bottom of the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead after loading the bases for Tessa Spinosa. Spinosa reached on a fielder's choice as Kyley Mellage scored from second base. In the play, Spinosa hit a groundball to the pitcher, getting a force out at home. The throw from the catcher then struck Spinosa in the back while running to first base, allowing Mellage to bolt for home for the contest's first run. After two innings, Messiah led, 1-0.
 
The third and fourth innings were quiet for both sides as both pitchers were in a groove. The Nittany Lions stranded a runner in the top of the third inning as Messiah's side was retired in both frames. The Falcons threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning, recording two hits, but ultimately stranding a runner.
 
The Nittany Lions had a pivotal top of the sixth inning, taking the lead on a two-out, go-ahead two-run homerun from Peyton Vivian. Vivian's big knock was the first of her career, chasing Collison from the game. Chinnadurai came on in relief to record the final out of the frame, but Messiah trailed, 2-1, with just six outs to go.
 
The Falcons answered immediately as McKenzie Shannon and Hannah Dyer led off the inning with consecutive singles. Madeline Gohnn reached on a fielder's choice as runners remained on first and second base. Paige Eakes hit a fly ball to right field, pushing Dyer to third. Dyer came racing home in the first pitch of Rosas' pinch-hit appearance, crossing the plate to level the score at 2-2. Later in the at-bat, Rosas ripped a double to right center field, scoring pinch-runner Joy Hedrick for the go-ahead run. The clutch hit was Rosas' first of the season as the Falcons needed just three outs to record their third-straight victory.
 
Chinnadurai finished the job in the top of the seventh, retiring the Nittany Lions in order to claim her first-career win. The first-year pitcher retired four of five batters faced, using just 17 pitches. Alexa Burger had a strong offensive game, going 2-for-3 at the dish, registering her second multi-hit game of the season.
 
Game Two – Mount Union 2, Messiah 1 (8 inn.)
Madison Walter made her third start of the spring break trip against the Purple Raiders, cruising through the first two innings. The senior pitcher struck out two batters, allowing just one hit and no runs. Despite a first-inning single from Elianna Litwin, the Falcons did not get their offense going as well. Olivia Denmark worked a walk in the top of the second inning, but hard lineout-doubleplay ended the frame.

The Falcons threatened in the top of the fourth inning, putting runners on second and third base with just one out following a walk from Litwin and a base hit from Shannon. Mount Union's pitcher, Megan Zody, navigated the danger by issuing consecutive strikeouts to end the half inning. Walter rebounded Messiah with a scoreless inning of pitching as the two sides were scoreless through four frames.
 
Messiah broke the stalemate in the top of the fifth inning to take 1-0 edge. The Falcons had a runner on second base as Ali Wagner came in to pinch hit, ripping a hard ground ball that was misplayed at first base. The ball trickled into the outfield, allowing the go-ahead run to touch the plate.
 
The Purple Raiders dew even late in the game, taking advantage of a wild pitch to plate the tying run. Mount Union threatened to take the lead with a runner on second base and two outs following a double. Litwin proceeded to make a stellar defensive play to get the Falcons out of the inning, diving in foul territory in front of the Messiah dugout for a clutch putout. Heading into the seventh inning, Messiah and Mount Union were tied at 1-1.
 
After a scoreless seventh inning, the Falcons were headed for extra innings for the third time out of four games. With a runner on second to start the inning, Burger bunted for a single, advancing to second to put runners on second and third base. The Purple Raiders were able to work out of the jam, getting Litwin to fly out and issuing a double play on a foul pop to third base. Tessa Spinosa dashed for home following the catch and was called out by a perfect relay throw.
 
Mount Union had all the momentum heading into the bottom of the eighth, bunting its runner over. Adri George ended the game with a game-winning single up the middle, sinking the Falcons, 2-1.
 
Despite the loss, Messiah totaled six hits between five players, including another multi-hit game (2-for-4) from Burger. Walter pitched a phenomenal game, tossing 7.2 innings, allowing just two runs while registering a season-high nine strikeouts.
 
Hedrick had a strong defensive game, totaling a team-high four putouts in right field.
 
What's Next
Messiah returns to action in The Spring Games on Friday, Mar. 11, taking on Lake Forest College (3:00 p.m.) and Hiram College (5:30 p.m.) at Sleepy Hollow Fields in Leesburg, Fla.