ANNVILLE, Pa. – The No. 2 Messiah University softball team topped No. 3 York College (Pa.), 9-4, on Thursday afternoon in the opening day of the 2023 MAC Commonwealth Softball Championship at LVC Softball Park in Annville, Pa.
Maggie Chinnadurai (10-7) earned the win in the circle after coming on in relief in the second inning as
Ali Wagner and
Allie Book provided the offensive spark. Both Wagner and Book recorded two-run doubles in the victory as seven different Falcons recorded hits.
No. 2 Messiah awaits the winner of No. 5 Eastern – No. 1 Lebanon Valley. The Falcons will clash with the winner tomorrow morning beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The Spartans got off to a fast start, grabbing an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Despite allowing two runs, Collison allowed just two runs while notching a strikeout and escaped a bases-loaded jam to give the Falcons' offense a chance to come back. In the bottom half of the frame,
McKenzie Shannon and
Hannah Dyer each worked two-out walks. Litwin followed with an RBI-single to plate Shannon as Book contributed the big hit of the inning in the next at-bat, a two-run double to left center to give Messiah a 3-2 edge. In the inning, the Falcons scored three runs on three hits, all with two outs on the board.
The Falcons escaped another bases-loaded jam in the top of the second inning after surrendering the tying run (3-3).
Maggie Chinnadurai came on in relief, recording back-to-back outs to leave the bases loaded.
Messiah broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning. The Falcons broke the tie by plating three runs on two hits to take a 6-3 advantage. Wagner recorded Messiah's second two-run double of the contest to score the team's fifth and sixth runs.
The offense did not let up, tacking on two more insurance runs in the fifth inning. Wagner recorded her third RBI of the afternoon after working a bases-loaded walk as
Brielle Rosario reached first base off a fielding error, allowing Litwin to score Messiah's eighth run of the game. At the end of five innings, Messiah led York, 8-3.
The two sides each plated a run in the sixth inning as Messiah held on for the 9-4 win.
Chinnadurai pitched a solid game for the Falcons, recording 5.2 innings pitched and earning the win. The sophomore pitcher allowed just one earned run to cross the plate in her nearly six innings of work, allowing six hits and striking out four batters.
The Falcons' offense totaled seven hits from seven different players in the victory. Book and Wagner accounted for the team's two extra-base hits as the team worked a total of six walks.
What's Next
Messiah will square off with the winner of No. 5 Eastern – No. 1 Lebanon Valley. The game will take place tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. at LVC Softball Park (Annville, Pa.).
