GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah softball team earned a doubleheader sweep over visiting Albright College on Wednesday. The Falcons shut out the Lions in both contests, claiming a 7-0 win in Game One while erupting for a 13-hit, 9-0 victory in Game Two that lasted just five innings.
Madison Walter (Game One) and
Lydia Collison (Game Two) each claimed victories in the circle as
Alexa Burger totaled five hits on the day.
Messiah recorded 13 hits in each contest, outscoring Albright 16-0.
Maggie Chinnadurai launched her second home run of the season in Game One, a two-run shot that cleared the left-center field fence.
With the doubleheader sweep, Messiah improves its overall record to 20-10 (8-2 MAC Commonwealth).
Game One – Messiah 7, Albright 0
Walter, making her 14th start of the season, issued a breezy top half of the first inning to set the Falcons up to strike first.
Alexa Burger ripped a single down the third-base line to lead things off for Messiah as
Hannah Dyer bunted a single to put two runners on.
Olivia Denmark walked to load the bases loaded for
Jaden Keister as the first-year infielder hit an infield single to plate Burger. Messiah tacked on two more runs in the same play following a throwing error to jump out to a quick 3-0. Walter continued the momentum in the circle in the second inning, striking out the Albright side to increase her strikeout total to five for the game.
Walter continued to cruise, upping her strikeout total to seven following the top of the third inning. The Falcons tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third, extending their advantage to 5-0 after Chinnadurai laced a two-run home run over the left-center field fence.
Messiah held its commanding lead throughout the remainder of the game, scoring two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh behind a pinch-hit, two-run double from
Paige Eakes. Entering the final frame, the Falcons led the Lions, 7-0. Walter shut the door in the top of the seventh inning as Messiah earned the seven-run conference victory.
Walter allowed just two hits in the contest, a bunt single in the top of the third inning and a hot-shot grounder in the seventh frame. The senior pitcher was dominant for her ninth win of the season, tossing the complete game with a season-high 12 strikeouts. Walter's 12 strikeouts match a career-high performance from April 3, 2021, improving her pitching record to 9-6.
Messiah totaled 13 hits in the win, highlighted by three-hit performances from Burger and Dyer.
Elianna Litwin and Keister each contributed multi-hit games as well as seven different Falcons hit safely.
Game Two – Messiah 9, Albright 0 (5 inn.)
Lydia Collison made her 14th start of the season in Game Two. The sophomore pitcher worked a scoreless inning, leaving two runners on base. In similar fashion to the opening game of the twin-bill, Messiah jumped ahead in the bottom of the first frame. The Falcons erupted with four hits to plate two runs. Denmark provided the big blow, an RBI-double to deep center field to score
Ali Wagner. Keister followed with a run-scoring knock of her own to left field to score Dyer. Through one frame, Messiah led Albright, 2-0.
Wagner increased Messiah's lead to a three-run advantage in the bottom of the second inning. The first-year outfielder issued a two-out, run-scoring single to center field for her seventh RBI of the season. The run was manufactured through a bunt single from Burger, who stole second base to put herself in scoring position for Wagner.
Messiah broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning, scoring six runs on five hits, taking advantage of three defensive mishaps from the Lions. Keister doubled to right-center field for the first run-scoring hit of the frame as Chinnadurai and Burger also issued run-scoring knocks. At the end of three innings, Messiah led Albright, 9-0.
Collison was in a groove in the circle, shutting down the Albright hitters and protecting the sizable Messiah lead. In the second and third innings, Collison struck out five-straight batters. Through four innings, Collison had not allowed a run while striking out seven batters, giving up just one hit.
Messiah earned 9-0 victory after just five innings of action, recording 13 hits in the contest. Of the seven Falcons who hit safely, six of them recorded multi-hit efforts. Additionally, six different Falcons recorded RBI in the win as the team ripped six extra-base hits.
What's Next
The Falcons travel to York College (Pa.) to take on the Spartans this Saturday, Apr. 23, for a conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
