READING, Pa. – Albright jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead against the Messiah baseball team in the bottom of the first inning on Tuesday afternoon, thanks to a three-run homer from Reese Adams. Messiah responded with 12 unanswered runs to earn a 12-3 victory over the Lions.
Five different Falcons collected multiple hits in the contest with
Mason Valentino leading the way with two hits and three RBI.
Jarrett Gordon hammered the first home run in his career in the victory.
Messiah improves to 4-1 in the MAC Commonwealth with the victory. The Falcons and Lions will complete their two-game series on Friday in Grantham at 3:30 p.m.
How It Happened
As mentioned, Albright's Reese Adams knocked a three-run homer in the bottom of the first to give the Lions an early 3-0 lead just four batters into the contest. The Falcons responded swifty thanks to a leadoff triple from
Kasey Caras and a double from
Mason Valentino to give Messiah their first run of the contest. Later in the inning,
Ryan Friend swept a groundball to second that was misplayed and Messiah pulled within one at 3-2 in the top of the second.
In the fourth, Messiah loaded the bases with no outs after back-to-back walks and a hit by pitch started the frame.
Evan Wagaman bounced a ground ball to third base that turned into a double-play but scored
Kasey Caras from third to knot things at 3-3.
In the fifth, a two-out rally resulted in four Messiah runs. After the first two batters of the frame were retired,
Sam Zercher reached on a fielding error to break open the flood gates. The next four batters reached safely with a walk or a hit and Messiah took a 7-3 lead.
Mason Valentino delivered a two-run double while
Kasey Caras and
Evan Wagaman each drove home one run in the frame.
Jarrett Gordon provided a little insurance in the top of the sixth with his first career home run, a solo shot to leadoff the frame and give Messiah an 8-3 lead.
Messiah scored four more runs in the eighth on a fast-developing rally.
Ryan Friend walked to lead off the inning and back-to-back doubles from
Jarrett Gordon and
Reed Wagner put Messiah up seven at 10-3. Messiah continued rolling with a double from
Clayton Roberts and a single from
Sam Zercher to expand their lead to 12-3, the eventual winning score.
On the mound,
Nathan Stein went five innings to earn the victory, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out four.
What's Up Next
With the victory, Messiah moves to 4-1 in the MAC Commonwealth and 14-11 overall on the season. The Falcons and Lions will be back in action for the conclusion of their two-game series on Friday in Grantham at 3:30 p.m.
