GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah University softball team used big innings in both games to sweep the Knights of Arcadia University on Thursday afternoon. In game one the Falcons trailed early with Arcadia scoring a run in the top of the first. The Falcons responded in the bottom of the second with four runs to take a 4-1 lead. The Falcons added two runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend to lead to 6-1. Arcadia left 13 runners on base, throughout the game and could not add another run and the Falcons won game one 6-1.
Lydia Collison earned the win in the circle, pitching four innings, allowing one earned run, on eight hits, one hit by pitch, and four strikeouts.
Maggie Chinnadurai earned the save pitching three innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and striking out four Knight batters.
Paige Eakes led the Falcons with three hits, two RBIs, and a run.
Alexa Burger added two hits and an RBI.
Elianna Litwin also added in two RBIs and a hit.
In game two, the Falcons jumped on the board early with five runs in the bottom of the first. Both pitchers settled into the game and threw three scoreless innings before the Knights scored three in the top of the fifth to put them down 5-3. The Falcons then added two runs in both the bottom of fifth and the sixth to defeat the Knights 9-3.
Fallon Feaser pitched a complete game, allowing three runs, on eight hits and striking out five Knights' batters.
Allie Book led the Falcons offense with three hits, two runs, and two RBIs.
McKenzie Shannon,
Rebekah Wiley, and
Ali Wagner each tallied two hits and two RBIs.
Up next, the Falcons travel to Owings Mills, Md. for a doubleheader against the Mustangs of Stevenson University on Saturday, April 20 starting at 1:00 p.m.
Game One – Messiah 6, Arcadia 1
The Knights started the game strong with a run off of two hits in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the first,
Alexa Burger hit a one out single and then stole second. After a
Kandice Schlabach walk, the Falcons grounded into a double play to end the first.
After
Lydia Collison worked around two Arcadia hits in the top of the second the Falcons looked to get their first runs of the game in the bottom of the second.
Allie Book led off the inning with a single to first base and then
McKenzie Shannon singled on a bunt to second base.
Brielle Rosario then reached first on a Knight's error and loaded the bases for the Falcons.
Elianna Litwin hit a sacrifice fly to left center, scoring Book, but then after an errant throw, Shannon scored as well and Litwin made it safely to second.
Paige Eakes then doubled to right center, scoring Litwin and giving the Falcons a 3-1 lead. After a lineout, the Falcons tacked on one more run on an
Alexa Burger RBI single to put the Falcons up 4-1 after two.
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Falcons looked to add insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. With two out,
McKenzie Shannon walked and then
Brielle Rosario singled to put runners on first and second with two outs. Then
Elianna Litwin and
Paige Eakes hit back-to-back RBI singles to push the Falcons lead to 6-1.
Maggie Chinnadurai closed out the game with three scoreless innings to give the Falcons a 6-1 win in game one.
Lydia Collison earned the win in the circle, pitching four innings, allowing one earned run, on eight hits, one hit by pitch, and four strikeouts.
Maggie Chinnadurai earned the save pitching three innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and striking out four Knight batters. Both Falcons pitchers limited damage, forcing the Knights to leave 13 runners on base in the game.
Paige Eakes led the Falcons with three hits, two RBIs, and a run.
Alexa Burger added two hits and an RBI.
Elianna Litwin also added in two RBIs and a hit.
Game Two – Messiah 9, Arcadia 3
In game two the Falcons offense did not waste any time getting going. After holding the Knights scoreless in the top of the first, the Falcons offense looked for a strong start.
Hannah Dyer led off the game with a single up the middle and then stole second and third after a strikeout.
Kandice Schlabach walked and then stole second to give the Falcons runners on second and third with one out.
McKenzie Shannon then hit a two-RBI double down the left field line to give the Falcons an early 2-0 lead. After an
Allie Book walk,
Rebekah Wiley hit an RBI single to right field to push the Falcons lead to three.
Ali Wagner then hit a two-RBI single to right center to push the Falcons lead to 5-0 after the first.
Both pitchers then settled into the game with
Fallon Feaser tossing four scoreless innings in the circle before the top of the fifth. The Knights tallied three runs on three hits and one Falcons' error to reduce the Falcons lead to 5-3. The Falcons though looked to answer with
Allie Book leading off the bottom of the fifth with a double.
Rebekah Wiley then hit her second RBI single of the game to push the Falcons lead back to three.
Ali Wagner then hit a bunt single to third and
Elianna Litwin moved the Falcons runners to second and third on a sac bunt with only one out.
Paige Eakes then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Falcons a 7-3 lead through five.
The Falcons then in the bottom of the sixth looked to add more insurance runs.
Alexa Burger led off the inning with a single and then stole second.
McKenzie Shannon singled to third and then both her and Burger stole a base to put runners on second and third with one out.
Allie Book then hit a two-RBI double down the left field line to extend the Falcons lead to 9-3 after six innings.
The Falcons worked around one hit in the top of the seventh to finish off the sweep with a 9-3 win.
Fallon Feaser pitched a complete game, allowing three runs, on eight hits and striking out five Knights' batters.
Allie Book led the Falcons offense with three hits, two runs, and two RBIs.
McKenzie Shannon,
Rebekah Wiley, and
Ali Wagner each tallied two hits and two RBIs.
Next
The Falcons travel to Owings Mills, Md. for a doubleheader against the Mustangs of Stevenson University on Saturday, April 20 starting at 1:00 p.m.
