FREDERICK, Md. – The final two frames of Wednesday's conference game between Messiah and Hood featured the bulk of the action with he two teams combining for seven of the nine total runs across the eighth and ninth. The Falcosn entered the eighth, trailing 2-0 off of two early Hood runs in the first and second. Messiah responded with a two-run single from
Isaiah Parido in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 2-2.
After a scoreless bottom of the frame, Messiah went back to work with an RBI triple from
Sam Zercher to give Messiah their first lead of the game at 3-2 in the top of the ninth. Zercher would be driven home by
Ryan Friend with a sacrifice fly to put the Falcons up 4-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth.
After a quick out, Hood got a single to center field to bring the tying run to the play. After a fly out, Messiah was just one out away from clinching the first game of the series. A walk put runners on first and second and an infield single from Tyler Schwarzman loaded the bases still with two outs.
Messiah then turned to
Noah Barrall to relieve
Christian Woodie, who started the game and tossed the first 8.2 innings. A walk forced home a run and sent the tying run to third and the place the winning run on second. A single up the middle by the next batter brought home both runners in scoring position and gave the Blazers a 5-4 walk-off victory.
The Falcons will look to rebound in the doubleheader tomorrow afternoon when Messiah hosts the Blazers at 1:00 p.m. Messiah will need to claim both games to be confident in their spot in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. Currently, the Falcons hold the fifth seed, but with 12-10 conference record has them in a precarious spot with just two games left to play. Hood holds an 11-11 conference record while Stevenson has three games left to play with Eastern while holding a 10-11 record in the conference.
Joshua Ammons led the offense with a 3-4 effort at the dish while
Sam Zercher went 2-4 with the key triple in the top of the ninth.
Christian Woodie was the story in this one, going 8.2 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out five. While he took the loss, Woodie looked fantastic throughout needing only 98 pitches in the game.
