GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah University softball team delivered a sweep of visiting Eastern University at Starry Softball Field on Monday afternoon. The Falcons, powered behind a first-inning grand slam off the bat of Paige Eakes, defeated the Eagles 8-5 in Game One and completed the sweep in Game Two, 3-2, as Maggie Chinnadurai struck out eight batters.
 
The doubleheader sweep improves Messiah's 2023 overall record to 19-8.
 
Game One – Messiah 8, Eastern 5
The opening frame of Game One was eventful as Eastern loaded the bases with no outs. Collison was able to miraculously work out of the jam without allowing a run to score after issuing a strikeout, foul out, and ground out in consecutive fashion. The Falcons used the momentum in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs on two hits to grab an early 4-0 lead. Eakes provided the big hit of the inning, a two-out grand slam to center field to plate Rebekah Wiley, Hannah Dyer, and McKenzie Shannon.
 
Messiah tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning after Allie Book recorded a run-scoring knock, a two-run double to left center field to extend the Falcons' advantage to 6-1. Collison cruised through the first three frames, allowing just one run on three hits.
 
The Falcons' offense produced three hits in the fifth inning as Elianna Litwin, Eakes, and Book all recorded hits. Book notched her second run-scoring hit of the game, a single to the pitcher to allow Eakes. In the prior at-bat, Eakes had her second extra-base hit of the contest, a one-out triple to right field. At the end of the five innings of play, Messiah led the Eagles, 8-4.
 
Collison was able to retire the Eastern lineup in the sixth and seventh innings to solidify an 8-5 decision for the Falcons. Collison, earning her 11th victory of the season, struck out three batters. Six different Falcons recorded hits as both Book and Eakes recorded multi-hit games, combining for 7 RBI. Book's three RBI was a career-best performance.
 
Game Two – Messiah 3, Eastern 2
Messiah was looking to complete the sweep in Game Two, and the opening frames were relatively silent. The Falcons totaled three hits in the first two innings as Eakes, Jaden Keister, and Chinnadurai all hit safely. Chinnadurai made the start in the circle, blanking the Eagles' offense in the first three innings. The sophomore pitcher surrendered just three hits while striking out as many batters.
 
The Falcons struck first in the bottom of the third inning. Shannon laced a triple through the left side to begin the inning and scored on the following at-bat from an error to plate the game's first run. Messiah tacked on two more runs later in the inning from a wild pitch and another error from the defense. At the end of three frames, the Falcons held a 3-0 edge.
 
Eastern's offense came alive in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two runs on four hits to trim Messiah's lead to 3-2. With the bases loaded and two outs, Chinnadurai issued a pivotal strikeout, getting the Eagles' Perez to go down swinging to leave three runners stranded.
 
Chinnadurai escaped more danger in the sixth inning, allowing two base runners but getting back-to-back outs to get out of the inning. The sophomore pitcher breezed through the top of seventh inning, retiring the Eagles to secure 3-2 win to complete the doubleheader sweep. Chinnadurai struck out eight batters to earn her sixth win of the season.
 
Shannon, Olivia Denmark and Keister all recorded multi-hit performances in the Game Two victory.
 
What's Next
Messiah (19-8, 7-1 MAC Commonwealth) returns to action this Thursday, Apr. 13, traveling to Elizabethtown College for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.