ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Messiah University softball team split a road doubleheader at Lebanon Valley College on Thursday afternoon to conclude its regular season slate. The Falcons dropped the opening game of the doubleheader, 6-1, and rallied to win a 2-1 contest in nine innings in Game Two.
McKenzie Shannon hit her ninth homerun of the season in the win as
Kelli Durbin and
Maggie Chinnadurai combined to provide stellar pitching performances in the circle.
At the conclusion of the 2023 regular season, Messiah's overall record stands at 28-11 (12-4 MAC Commonwealth). The Falcons clinched the two-seed for the upcoming MAC Commonwealth Tournament
Game One – Lebanon Valley 6, Messiah 1
The Falcons got the day going on the right note, plating a run in the top of the first inning to grab an early 1-0 lead.
Hannah Dyer provided the run-scoring knock, an RBI-single to center field to score
Kyley Mellage, who singled earlier in the inning.
Collison made the start in the circle, blanking the Dutchmen offense in the first two frames. The junior pitcher had to work around baserunners in each of the two innings, but was able to escape both jams while collecting two strikeouts. The Lebanon Valley offense broke through in the bottom of the third inning, scoring six runs on seven hits to take a firm 6-1 lead over the Falcons.
The six-run frame in the bottom of the third inning proved to be the turning point of the contest as Messiah's bats went cold. The Falcons had two hits in the opening inning and were silenced for the remainder of the contest. Lebanon Valley's Walker pitched a strong game, pitching all seven innings while striking out nine batters to earn her 16th win of the season.
Collison was dealt just her second loss of the season as the Falcons looked to rebound in Game Two.
Game Two – Messiah 2, Lebanon Valley 1 (9 inn.)
Messiah was able to rally in Game Two and earn the split in the doubleheader. Similar to Game One, the Falcons plated a run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Shannon launched a solo home run to give the Falcons the early lead, her team-leading ninth homerun of the campaign.
The Dutchmen tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the fourth inning on a fielding error. The game remained tied heading all the way into the ninth inning when Messiah finally broke through to reclaim its early lead. Dyer and Litwin singled to lead off the frame.
Rebekah Wiley walked two batters later to load the bases with one out, allowing Dyer to score in the following at bat from a sacrifice fly off the bat of Wagner. Chinnadurai shut the door in the bottom of the ninth inning to clinch the narrow 2-1, extra-innings victory.
Kelli Durbin made the Game Two start for the Falcons, tossing an impressive 7.1 innings before turning it over to
Maggie Chinnadurai in the eighth inning. Durbin allowed just one run on four hits in her longest outing of the season.
Seven different Falcons hit safely in the win as Mellage recorded a two-hit performance.
What's Next
Messiah (24-11, 12-4 MAC Commonwealth) will compete in the 2023 MAC Commonwealth Softball Championships as the two-seed. The tournament is to be held at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., beginning next Thursday, May 4.
