ANNVILLE, Pa. - The Messiah baseball team opened their doubleheader with Lebanon Valley on Saturday by dropping a 10-2 game against the Dutchmen. The Falcons countered by winning Game Two by a 14-6 final. In both games, the winning team jumped out to an early lead. In Game One it was Lebanon Valley scoring six first-inning runs to jump out in front. In Game Two, Messiah scored seven runs across the first two frames thanks in part to homers from Reed Wagner and Kasey Caras.
 
With the doubleheader split, Messiah moves to 3-1 in the MAC Commonwealth and 13-11 overall. The Falcons will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Albright to take on the Lions at 3:30 p.m.
 
Game One - Lebanon Valley defeats Messiah - 10-2
The Dutchmen jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of Game One. Lebanon Valley took advantage of two walks and a hit by pitch from the Falcons to score all six runners that reached base. The Dutchmen only collected three hits in the frame with Luke Blair knocking the big one, a mammoth two-run homer to cap off the frame.
 
Messiah got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, off of a Sam Zercher leadoff homer to make it a 6-1 game.
 
In the sixth, Messiah scored their second run on an RBI double from Evan Wagaman down the left field line, making it a 6-2 game. The Falcons threatened for more in the frame, but stranded the bases loaded.
 
The Dutchmen added four insurance runs across the sixth and seventh to earn the 10-2 victory over Messiah in Game One.

Game Two - Messiah defeats Lebanon Valley - 14-6
Just as the Dutchmen did in Game One, Messiah scored early runs to jump out in front. Messiah plated a pair of runs in the first on a Sam Zercher RBI single and a first and third play that allowed a run to score. Then in the second, Reed Wagner ripped a two-run homer down the right field line and two batters later, Kasey Caras destroyed a three-run homer to right center for a 7-0 Messiah lead after two frames. The Falcons took advantage of five walks in the first two frames to help build their lead.

After a solo homer from Lebanon Valley in the third put the Dutchmen on the board, Messiah responded with five runs in the top of the fourth on just two hits. Reed Wagner led off the inning with a single and Ryan Friend delivered the big blow with a two-run single after four walks allowed two runs to score. A failed pick off allowed another run to score and the Falcons took a 12-1 lead.

The Dutchmen scored five runs across the fourth, fifth, and sixth while the Falcons scored two more in the sixth on a Joshua Ammons sacrifice fly and a Ryan Friend infield single.

Messiah earned the 14-6 victory, despite being out hit in the game 12-7.

Kenny Runkel earned the victory in relief, tossing four innings while allowing just two runs (one earned) while striking out five.

What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on the Albright Lions at 3:30 p.m. in Reading. Messiah and Albright will complete their two-game series on Friday in Grantham at 3:30 p.m.