GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah baseball team played Eastern University to a doubleheader split on Monday afternoon at Starry Baseball Field. The Falcons erupted for a 20-hit Game One, topping the Eagles, 18-6, before dropping Game Two by a score of 13-5. Messiah had stellar offensive performances from many notable contributors, highlighted by a four-RBI game from Jarrett Gordon in Game One and home runs from Clayton Roberts and Reed Wagner in Game Two.
 
With the doubleheader split, Messiah's 2022 overall record stands at 16-12 (6-2 MAC Commonwealth).
 
Game One – Messiah 18, Eastern 6
Christian Woodie made the Game One start for the Falcons, making his fifth start of the season. Woodie issued a breezy top of the first inning, retiring the Eagles in order. Messiah jumped ahead in the bottom half of the frame with two runs, highlighted by a two-run single from Clayton Roberts. The Falcons loaded the bases on two walks and an error as Roberts provided the two-out hit to earn the early two-run lead.
 
The Falcons did not let up the offensive pressure in the following three frames, combining for eight runs in the second, third and fourth innings. Messiah plated five runs in the bottom of the third inning, highlighted by a three-run double from Jarrett Gordon. Gordon launched deep fly ball into the left-center field gap with the bases loaded as all three Falcons came around to score, upping his season total in RBI to 12. Later in the inning, Sam Zercher contributed an RBI-single while Kasey Caras lifted a sacrifice fly as the Falcons led after three innings, 9-2.
 
Woodie was relieved by Kenny Runkel in the fourth inning. Woodie completed 3.1 innings, allowing three runs while striking out three batters. Runkel was stellar for the Falcons, retiring the first eight batters he faced.
 
Caras hit his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning, a two-out, three-run shot to right field to increase Messiah's lead to a commanding 13-run lead (16-3).
 
The Falcons went on to win Game One in dominant fashion, 18-6. Messiah had three different players (Zercher, Roberts, and Joshua Ammons) record three hits as the team erupted for a season-high 20 hits. Runkel earned the win, pitching 3.2 innings, striking out three batters. Josh Nielsen and Isaiah Zercher pitched the eighth and ninth inning, respectively, to secure the win for Messiah.
 
The Falcons, improving their conference record to 6-1 with the win, batted an impressive .465 as a team.
 
Game Two – Eastern 13, Messiah 5
Messiah had an opportunity to sweep its visitors with a Game Two victory, but Eastern responded well to its Game One performance, rebounding by plating five runs in the first two frames. The Eagles chased the Falcons' starter, Josh Monturo, after two innings pitched. Monturo allowed five runs on five hits, walking three batters and striking out two. Through two innings, Messiah trailed Eastern, 5-1.
 
The Falcons' lone run in the opening two innings came from an RBI-double from Evan Wagaman, a laced shot down the left-field line to plate Roberts. The run-scoring knock produced Wagaman's 22nd RBI of the season.
 
Ammons scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning, cutting into Messiah's deficit. The Falcons had a chance to do damage, sending up Gordon with the bases loaded. The freshman infielder put up a good at bat, but flew out to end the inning. Through four frames, the Falcons continued to trail, 7-2.
 
The Eagles had a big offensive inning in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs to extend their advantage to eight runs (10-2). Hunsberger provided the big blow, a three-run home run to right field to score Friend and Cooley.
 
Roberts launched a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring Messiah within a seven-run deficit (11-4). The home run sailed over the left field fence, Roberts' second long ball of the season. Reed Wagner crushed a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Falcons ultimately fell short, 13-5.
 
The Falcons used five pitchers throughout the game, highlighted by a four-strikeout performance from Dennis Snyder.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 
What's Next
Messiah has a quick turnaround, hosting Cairn University tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at Starry Baseball Field.