GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah softball team swept visiting Gettysburg college in a non-conference doubleheader at Starry Softball field on Wednesday afternoon. The Falcons edged the Bullets in a thrilling Game One, 3-2, and earned a commanding 5-0 win in Game Two to complete the sweep.
Maggie Chinnadurai earned her second win of the season in Game One, pitching six strong innings as
Elianna Litwin recorded a team-high two RBI in Game Two.
Messiah, with the doubleheader sweep, improved its overall record to 24-12 (10-4 MAC Commonwealth).
Game One – Messiah 3, Gettysburg 2
Maggie Chinnadurai, following a phenomenal relief pitching appearance in Game Two's loss to Hood College yesterday, made the start in the circle for Messiah. The Bullets threatened in the top of the first inning, putting two runners on with the help of two defensive errors from the Falcons. Chinnadurai worked out of the jam, issuing a strikeout and a popout in consecutive at-bats to end the inning.
The Falcons threatened in similar fashion in the bottom half of the opening frame, but were unable to scratch across a run. Messiah had runners on first and second base behind a single from
Hannah Dyer and a walk from
Olivia Denmark, but Gettysburg pitcher Paige Forry was able to navigate the danger, striking out two batters in the inning.
The Bullets broke the deadlock in the top of the fourth inning, plating the game's first run on a RBI-single to right field from Julia Schinik. Gettysburg collected two hits in the inning and took advantage of Messiah's third error of the game.
Messiah's defense continued to falter in the fifth inning when another error allowed the Bullets to score their second run. Entering the bottom of the fifth inning, the Falcons trailed, 2-0.
Messiah had a big bottom of the fifth inning as the bats came alive. The Falcons tied the game with two runs behind two hits.
Lydia Collison and
McKenzie Shannon each provided the run-scoring knocks for the Falcons. At the end of five innings, the Falcons and Bullets were knotted up at 2-2.
Chinnadurai issued a breezy one-two-three inning in the top of the sixth inning, allowing the Falcons a chance to plate the go-ahead run in the bottom half of the frame. The Falcons put runners on first and second base and scored on a double-steal attempt.
Tessa Spinosa and
Ali Wagner each attempted steals as the Bullets' catcher placed the throw to second base into center field, allowing Wagner to score the go-ahead run in easy fashion. At the end of six innings, Messiah led, 3-2.
The Falcons were just three outs away from victory, and after allowing the first two runners to reach base, Chinnadurai was relieved for
Madison Walter. Walter retired the first two batters she faced, but the Bullets loaded the bases on an error from Dyer. With the bases loaded and two outs, Denmark made a terrific catch in right field to secure the win for Messiah.
In the 3-2 victory, the Falcons collected three hits as Walter claimed her third save of the season.
Game Two – Messiah 5, Gettysburg 0
Collison made the start for the Falcons in Game Two, the sophomore pitcher's 17th start of the campaign. Collison navigated the Gettysburg lineup in the opening two frames, not allowing a run to score while striking out two batters.
The Falcons' offense erupted in the third inning, scoring four runs on two hits.
Elianna Litwin and Dyer recorded run-scoring hits as Denmark and Keister earned RBIs on productive outs. At the end of three innings of play, Messiah owned a 4-0 lead.
Messiah continued its offensive momentum in the bottom of the fifth inning, using an RBI-single from Litwin to extend its lead to a five-run advantage (5-0). Litwin increased her RBI count two with hit, her second run-scoring knock of the contest.
With the comfortable five-run lead, Collison was able to keep Gettysburg off the scoreboard. Collison pitched all seven innings for the Falcons, earning the win with seven strikeouts. With the win, Collison improved her pitching record to 9-5 on the season.
What's Next
The Falcons travel to Alvernia University this Saturday, Apr. 30, to wrap up their conference schedule with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
