ASHLAND, Va. – A five-run third inning and a stellar pitching performance from
Nathan Stein, propelled the Messiah baseball team to a 6-4 victory over the No. 24 Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets on Friday afternoon. The Falcons got on the board in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly before plating five runs in the third inning to build a 6-0 lead. That lead would remain steady at six runs until the eighth inning thanks to a phenomenal performance from
Nathan Stein.
While Randolph-Macon would push four runs across in the eighth and threaten for more in the ninth, bringing the winning run to the plate, Messiah was able to hold off the late charge to earn a signature victory over a ranked program.
Nathan Stein's effort on the hill cannot be overstated. The senior lefty earned his second victory of the season with seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and three walks. He struck out four batters while keeping the Yellow Jackets off balance throughout the contest.
Noah Barrall earned the save, throwing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Barrall struck out three batters while working around a pair of hits.
At the dish, every spot in the line up picked up a hit.
Jarrett Gordon was the lone Falcon with multiple hits, going 2-4 with a double and an RBI.
Drew Hurst delivered the key blow in the third with a two-run single to left field.
Messiah and Randolph-Macon will wrap up their three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at noon in Ashland, Va.
How It Happened
The Falcons loaded the bases in the top of the first with a walk, single, and hit by pitch to set the table for the middle of the order.
Evan Wagaman delivered a sacrifice fly to get Messiah on the board, but the Yellow Jackets cut a runner down at third base to curtail the rally. While Messiah was able to put runners on second and third with two outs a strikeout ended the threat with just one run crossing the plate.
Randolph-Macon stranded two runners in both the first and second and the Falcons capitalized with five runs crossing the plate in the third frame.
Isaiah Parido started the inning with an infield single. After a stole base,
Joshua Ammons singled home Parido to make it 2-0 with one out.
Evan Wagaman singled to put runners at second and third. After a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases,
Drew Hurst knocked a two-run single to left field to double the Falcons' lead to 4-0.
Two batters later,
Nick Moyer was hit by a pitch, bring home Messiah's fifth run of the day and
Jarrett Gordon made it 6-0 with an RBI groundout to third. A walk to Parido loaded the bases again, but a lineout to right field by
Dylan Beard ended the frame, but not before the damage was done. Messiah had taken a 6-0 lead after a five-run frame.
Nathan Stein quickly turned in a three-up, three-down inning, beginning a stretch of five-straight hitless frames for the Yellow Jackets. During the hitless innings, Stein allowed just two base runners. Stein hit a batter in the fourth and walk one in the sixth, but neither was able to reach second base.
With the Falcons still holding a 6-0 lead, Randolph-Macon got on the board in the seventh. The Yellow Jackets scored four runs on six hits while facing three different Messiah arms.
Noah Barrall entered with two outs and a runner on second, trying to protect a 6-4 lead. Barrall allowed an infield single before ending the inning with a strikeout.
After Messiah was unable to add an insurance run in the top of the ninth, Barrall was back out for the ninth. The leadoff man reached on an error and after a fly out, a single to center put runners on the corners with just one away. This brought the winner run to the plate. Barrall, however, was unphased. He struck out the next two batters to close out the game and preserve a Messiah victory, earning a save in the process.
What's Up Next
The Falcons will look to build on their momentum, taking on the Yellow Jackets in a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon. First pitch for Game One is scheduled for noon in Ashland, Va.
