FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Messiah baseball team started the 2024 season with a 4-3 victory over the Methodist Monarchs on Friday night. Taking advantage of 10 walks and a trio of hit-by-pitches, the Falcons scored their four runs on just five hits.
Dylan Beard led Messiah offensively with a 2-4 effort at the dish, driving home a pair of runs with RBI singles in the third and seventh innings.
Evan Wagaman also drove home a run in the game with a double just inside the bag at first in the opening frame.
On the mound,
Jason Long got the start and tossed five frames, allowing a pair of runs (one earned) on six hits and just one walk.
Christian Foltz picked up the win, pitching three quality innings with one run crossing the plate on four hits.
Noah Barrall twirled a perfect ninth inning to lock down the first victory of the season.
The Falcons and Monarchs will wrap up their opening weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday that is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Fayetteville, N.C.
How It Happened
The Falcons used a patient approach to get on the board in the top of the first inning, walking three times and using a
Evan Wagaman double down the right-field line to score the first run of the season. After a hard-hit line out to left by
Isaiah Parido,
Dustin Isanogle and
Joshua Ammons walked to put runners on first and second for Wagaman. Going the opposite way, Wagaman snuck a ball inside the bag at first to bring home Isanogle. With runners at second and third with one away, Messiah threatened for more, but the Monarchs cut a run down at the plate on a fielder's choice and the damage was limited to just a single run.
Methodist got that run back almost immediately after a pair of errors in the bottom of the first allowed the tying run to score and level the game at 1-1.
The lead went back in Messiah's favor in the top of the third when Isanogle was brought home once again. This time
Dylan Beard ripped a single through the left-side of the infield to chase Isanogle home. Isanogle led off the frame by reaching on a Monarchs' throwing error.
Just as they did in the first, Methodist responded with a run in the bottom of the inning to knot the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back singles started the frame, but Messiah starter
Jason Long induced a double-play ball to curb the momentum. After a walk, a two-out single down the left-field line tied the game.
In the top of the seventh Messiah took the lead back once again on
Dylan Beard's second RBI single of the game. With two outs and
Joshua Ammons on third base, Beard punched a single to right field and allowed Ammons to score the go-ahead run and give Messiah a 3-2 lead.
For the third time in the game, the lead was short lived as Methodist scored in the bottom half of the stanza on an RBI single. The Falcons limited the damage as
Christian Foltz wiggled out of the jam with a pair of fielder's choices and a strikeout ending the frame with the game tied.
In the eighth, Messiah took the lead once again, but it was the lead up to the run that was noteworthy. With one away, back-to-back walks put runners on second and third.
Dustin Isanogle then looked to have grounded into a double play that would have ended the inning, but catcher's interference was called and the Falcons loaded the bases with one away. A wild pitch allowed Jarret Gordan to scamper home for the go ahead run at 4-3. While Messiah loaded the bases once again with a walk, a strikeout and a fielder's choice ended the threat.
Needing six more outs to secure a season-opening victory, Messiah got just that.
Christian Foltz hung a big zero on the board in the eighth, with a shutdown, three-up, three-down frame and
Noah Barrall slammed the door with a perfect ninth inning. For their efforts, Foltz was awarded the victory while Barrall picks up the save.
What's Up Next
The Falcons and Monarchs will square off in a doubleheader tomorrow to complete their opening weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from North Carolina.
