ASHLAND, Va. – The Messiah University baseball team dropped a road doubleheader at No. 23 Randolph-Macon University on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons lost Game One, 15-1, while dropping the second contest by a score of 7-3, despite outhitting the Yellowjackets (11-10). Joshua Ammons recorded four hits on the day as Dylan Beard notched a three-hit performance in Game Two.

Beard, Dustin Isanogle, and Evan Wagaman all recorded run-scoring knocks in the doubleheader.

Nathan Stein and JJ Zirkle were the two losing pitchers on the day. Zirkle, making the Game Two start, tossed four innings while allowing just one earned run, striking out two batters.

The Yellowjackets' offense erupted for 14 hits in Game One, highlighted by a fourth-inning grand slam by senior outfielder Ethan Iannuzzi.

In Game Two, the Falcons trailed 4-0, but scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut their deficit to 4-3. In the inning, Isanogle knocked an RBI single and Beard followed with a two-run double. The Randolph-Macon offense regained control of the game, scoring three insurance runs across the sixth and eighth innings to solidify the win, 7-3.

With a single in Game One and three hits in Game Two, Ammons continues his hot start at the plate in the 2023 season. The junior increased his team-leading hit total to 18 while bumping his batting average up to.486, also a team-high mark.

Messiah (3-6-1) will be back in action this Friday, Mar. 10, opening its conference slate at York College (Pa.) at 3:30 p.m.