CHESTERTOWN, Md. – The Messiah University softball team faced Washington College (Md.) in a road doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. The Falcons edged out a Game One victory, 6-4, in extra innings behind a strong pitching performance from Lydia Collison before Game Two was canceled after the fourth inning due to darkness.

Eliana Litwin was the star in the doubleheader, proving to be the Game One's only player to record a multi-hit performance. In Game Two, Litwin drove in a game-high four runs behind a 3-for-3 performance at the dish before the game became unofficial.

With the Game One victory, Messiah's overall record improves to 6-5.

Game One – Messiah 6, Washington College 4 (8 inn.)

Lydia Collison, making her sixth start of the 2023 campaign, was in the circle for the Falcons in Game One. The junior pitcher blanked the Shorewomen offense in the opening two frames, allowing just two hits while striking out two batters. Despite the strong start to the game Washington College earned the first lead of the game in the bottom of the third inning, scoring twice on an RBI-double by Witmer, the reigning Centennial Conference Player of the Week.

Trailing by a pair of runs, Messiah scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings to draw level at 2-2. Shannon provided the Falcons' first run-scoring knock of the day in the top of the fourth, a double to left field to plate Alexa Burger. Later in the fifth, Brielle Rosario earned the game-tying RBI with a groundout to shortstop to score Rebekah Wiley.

The Shorewomen had a quick response to losing their lead. Utilizing timely hitting and a Falcon error in the field, Washington College plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to jump back ahead, 4-2. Trailing by two runs once again, Messiah got two runners aboard with just one out in the following frame. Litwin stepped up to the plate and delivered a game-tying, two-run triple down the right field line to score Shannon and Hannah Dyer.

Messiah had the go-ahead run at third base, but Washington College issued consecutive strikeouts to escape the jam. Collison closed the door on the Shorewomen in the bottom half of the inning.

The seventh inning was scoreless between the two sides, forcing extra innings. The Falcons struck promptly in extra innings. With a runner placed on second to begin the inning, Joy Hedrick advanced to third on a foul out, then scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Dyer. Dyer stole second as Litwin continued her hot offensive afternoon at the plate, ripping an RBI-single to center field to increase Messiah's lead to 6-4.

Messiah, despite surviving a two-base-runner-scare in the bottom of the eighth inning, held on to earn the Game One win. Maggie Chinnadurai came on in relief to face the last batter of the game, issuing a swinging strikeout to seal the victory. Collison earned her third win of the season after tossing 7.2 impressive innings, totaling three strikeouts.

The Falcons recorded six hits in the win as Chinnadurai registered her first save of the season.

Game Two – Messiah 15, Washington College 9 (Unofficial)

The Falcons looked to sweep the Shoremen in Game Two and got off to a fast start. Burger led the game off with a double as Shannon walked and stole second base to set up two runners in scoring position for Litwin. The senior pulled through once again, plating Burger and Shannon with a single down the right field line.

Messiah promptly had a 2-0 edge as Chinnadurai got the start in the circle, looking to continue her momentum after closing Game One.

Both offenses exploded in the second and third innings as a combined 17 runs were scored across the two frames. The Falcons scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning and five runs in the top of the second inning behind four hits and five runs in the top of the third inning behind four hits. Burger, Ali Wagner, Litwin, Rosario,

Shannon, and Dyer all contributed run-scoring hits. The Shorewomen kept themselves in the contest, combining to score eight runs in the two innings to trail by just three runs (11-8).

In the unofficial Game Two, four Falcons recorded multi-hit performances as Burger, Litwin, and Shannon all had three hits.

What's Next
Messiah (6-5) returns to action next Thursday, Mar. 16, facing Marymount University (2-5) for a road doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.