MISENHEIMER, N.C. – The Messiah University softball team dropped a pair of games at Pfeiffer to open the 2024 season. In game one, Messiah and Pfeiffer fell in a pitcher's dual, 1-0 after Pfeiffer scored a late run in the bottom of the sixth inning. In game two, Pfeiffer scored two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to defeat the Falcons, 5-0.
The Falcons were led by a great outing in the circle in game one by
Lydia Collison. Collison pitched six innings, allowing on one run on three hits and five strikeouts.
Allie Book and
Rebekah Wiley recorded the lone hits for the Falcons. In game two the Falcons were no-hit through six and a third innings before
Jaden Keister broke up the no-hitter with a single.
Maggie Chinnadurai started for the Falcons and went four innings, allowing two unearned runs, on six hits, three walks, and one strikeout.
Up next, the Falcons travel to Salisbury, Md. to take on the Salisbury University Sea Gulls and the University of Rochester on Friday, Feb. 23 starting at 12:30 p.m.
Game One – Pfeiffer 1, Messiah 0
The Falcons opened the top-half of the first with
Alexa Burger reaching off an error. Burger then stole second, but the next three Falcons went down in order to end the top half of the first. After a foul out to first, Pfeiffer singled through the left-side and the runner advanced to second on a wild pitch, but
Lydia Collison worked out of the inning with a pop out and a fly out to keep the game scoreless early.
In the second inning, the Falcons once again reached base with an
Allie Book single, but Pfeiffer got out of the inning again to keep the scoreless tie.
Both pitchers dominated for the next couple innings allowing, zero hits or runners on base until the bottom of the fifth. Pfeiffer led off with a single and after a pinch runner, stole second to put a runner in scoring position with no outs.
Lydia Collison then got a strikeout looking, a foul out, and a fly out of center to work out of the inning and keep the game scoreless.
In the top of the sixth, the Falcons looked to break the scoreless tie.
Rebekah Wiley led off the inning for the Falcons with a single to third base. After
Alexa Burger moved Wiley to second on a sac bunt, the Falcons had a strikeout before
Hannah Dyer walked to put runners of first and second with one out. Then the Falcons continued to show good plate discipline with a
Kandice Schlabach walk to load the bases with two outs. Pfeiffer then got a strikeout swinging to get out of the jam. In the bottom of the sixth though, Pfeiffer got on the board with a two out home run to left center to take a 1-0 lead.
The Falcons then went down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to drop the 2024 season opener.
Lydia Collison had a great outing in the circle for the Falcons pitching six innings, allowing only three hits, one earned run, and recording five strikeouts.
Allie Book and
Rebekah Wiley both recorded the two hits for the Falcons.
Game Two – Pfeiffer 5, Messiah 0
After the Falcons went down in order in the top of the first, Pfeiffer looked to get some early runs on the board. Pfeiffer lead off the inning with a single, and after a couple of outs, Pfeiffer worked a walk to set up runners on first and second with two outs.
Maggie Chinnadurai then got a ground out to short to get out of the early jam.
Pfeiffer continued to pose a threat in the bottom of the second with the bases loaded and one out. Chinnadurai then got a fielder's choice to home and then another ground out that
Elianna Litwin tagged third to get the Falcons out of another early jam with no runs scored. In the third, Pfeiffer led off the inning with a single, but the Falcons got out of the inning after three straight outs.
The Falcons had not had anyone on base through three innings, but in the fourth with two outs looked to try and put some pressure on the Pfeiffer defense.
Hannah Dyer hit a ground ball to third, but an errant throw by the Pfeiffer third basemen gave the Falcons their first base runner of the game. Dyer then stole second, and
Kandice Schlabach reached on base after a wild pitch on strike three to give the Falcons runners on first and second with two outs, but the Falcons grounded into a fielder's choice to end the threat of the first run.
Pfeiffer then in the bottom of the fourth finally broke through with two runs on three hits and a Falcons error. Pfeiffer continued to have good pitching and defense and added three more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on two hits and two walks to extend their lead to 5-0.
In the top of the seventh the Falcons looked to start a two-out rally.
Jaden Keister pinch hit and singled through the left side to break up the Pfeiffer no-hitter and
Paige Eakes walked to put runners on first and second. The Falcons ended the game on the next batter with a line out to give Pfeiffer a 5-0 win.
Jaden Keister had the lone hit for the Falcons.
Paige Eakes got on base twice with two walks.
Maggie Chinnadurai started in the circle for the Falcons and went four innings, allowing two unearned runs, on six hits, three walks, and one strikeout.
Next
The Falcons travel to Salisbury, Md. to take on the Salisbury University Sea Gulls and the University of Rochester on Friday, Feb. 23 starting at 12:30 p.m.
