LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Messiah baseball team exploded for their largest offensive output of the young season, defeating Covenant 19-7 and 12-8 in their doubleheader on Saturday. The Falcons led 6-5 heading into the sixth inning of Game One, but proceeded to place multiple runs in each of the next four frames to route the Scots 19-7 to start the day. In the nightcap Messiah's bats stayed hot, scoring eight runs in the first three frames to take an 8-0 lead. After Covenant put six on the board in the fourth, Messiah added a pair of insurance runs in both the fifth and seventh innings en route to the 12-8 victory.
 
As a team, the Falcons hammered five home runs across the two games with Evan Wagaman knocking one in each contest, including a grand slam in the seventh inning of Game One. Wagaman led the offense on the day, going 5-11 with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, and four runs scored.
 
With the wins, Messiah improves to 4-2 on the season and will be back in action on Tuesday for a non-conference game against the Eastern Mennonite Royals in Harrisonburg, Va.
 
Game One – Messiah defeats Covenant – 19-7
The Falcons started quickly, putting a crooked number on the board in the opening frame. With two away, Evan Wagaman ripped an RBI double to right centerfield to chase home Joshua Ammons. Dyland Beard followed with a single to give Messiah a 2-0 lead.
 
Covenant tied things up in the bottom of the third with runs scoring on a throwing errors and an RBI single. A three-run frame followed for the Falcons in the fourth with Jarret Gordon bringing home a run on an infield single and Dustin Isanogle driving home two with a single to right field. In the fifth, David Martinez knocked an RBI double, but the Scots scored one run in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the fifth. As a result, Messiah held a 6-5 lead with game heading to the sixth.
 
Jarret Gordon led off the sixth with a single and Isaiah Parido hammered a two-run home to kick start the Falcons' offense. Dylan Beard added another run later in the inning with an RBI single to make it a three-run frame for Messiah.
 
In the seventh, Evan Wagaman stepped to the plate with the bases loaded with two away. The junior unloaded the bases with a grand slam to center field and pushed Messiah's lead to eight at 13-5. Messiah was not done there. The Falcons added three in the eighth and three more in the ninth. While the Scots hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, it was far from enough as the Falcons earned the 19-7 victory. Messiah's 19 runs are their most in a game since scoring 23 on Apr. 29, 2018 against Albright in a 23-1 victory.
 
On the bump, Nathan Stein got the start and went four innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks. Brady Martin tossed three scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory. Martin struck out three batters while allowing two hits and a pair of walks. Jadyn Martin finished the game with two innings pitched, a pair of strikeouts and two runs allowed.
 
Game Two – Messiah defeats Covenant – 12-8
Like Game One, the Falcons got on the board early with three runs in the top of the first inning of Game Two. After a leadoff walk, Dylan Beard doubled down the left field line to give Messiah a 1-0 lead just two batters into the game. Two batters later, Beard got to trot home when Evan Wagaman launched his second round tripper of the day to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead.
 
A five-run third inning extended Messiah's lead to 8-0. The Falcons scored their five runs on just three hits, taking advantage of an error and a walk. Ryan Friend delivered the big blow of the frame with a three-run home run to left-centerfield, capping the frame.
 
The Falcons looked to be cruising, but the Scots put together a six-run fourth inning to pull within two at 8-6. Covenant used seven hits in the frame to plate half a dozen runs and change to complexion of the game.
 
Both teams scored twice in the fifth inning to put the Falcons up 10-8. A bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly drove home Messiah's runs. In the seventh, Joshua Ammons added some insurance with a two-out, two-run homer to put the Falcons up four at 12-8.
 
Noah Barrall earned the victory for the Falcons, tossing 2.2 innings in relief. He allowed two runs on two hits while striking out a pair.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will head to Virginia this Tuesday for a non-conference game against Eastern Mennonite. Messiah will be back in Virginia next weekend when they take on Randolph-Macon in a three-game series on Friday and Saturday.