OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Messiah University softball team used an offensive explosion in both games to sweep the Mustangs of Stevenson University on Saturday afternoon. In game one, the Falcons jumped to an early 5-2 lead after two innings. The Falcons offense then added five more run in the top of the third to extend their lead to 10-2. After the Mustangs scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Falcons put the finishing touches on the win with seven runs in the top of the fifth, to win 17-6 due to the run rule. Kandice Schlabach had a monster day at the plate hitting for the cycle. Schlabach tallied five hits, eight RBIs, and scored three runs. Hannah Dyer and Paige Eakes each tallied four hits. Jaden Keister and Elianna Litwin each added two hits.
 
In game two, the Falcons got out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. The Falcons then added two more in the top of third to push their lead to 4-0. In the fourth the Falcons offense scored four more runs to jump to an 8-0 lead. The Falcons did not allow an runs in the final two innings, to finish off their second run rule win over Stevenson 8-0. Fallon Feaser pitched five shutout innings, allowing five hits, two walks, and struck out two batters. Allie Book led the Falcons offense with three hits, two RBIs, and a run. Alexa Burger, Jaden Keister, Rebekah Wiley, and Ali Wagner all totaled two hits.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Middletown, Pa. for a doubleheader against the Lions of Penn St. Harrisburg on Monday, April 22 starting at 3:00 p.m.
 
Game One – Messiah 17, Stevenson 6 – 5 Innings
The Falcons looked to get the offense going in the top of the first. Hannah Dyer led off the game with a bunt single and then stole second. Alexa Burger moved Dyer over to third with a sac bunt and then Kandice Schlabach hit an RBI single to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Jaden Keister then doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Allie Book then hit a two-RBI double to push the Falcons lead to 3-0 after the top of the first. The Mustangs answered back with a run on a hit to put the score at 3-1 after the first inning.
 
The Falcons looked to add more in the top of the second with Elianna Litwin leading off the inning with a single. Paige Eakes and Hannah Dyer then hit bunt singles to load the bases with no outs. After a ground out, Kandice Schlabach hit a two-RBI single to push the Falcons lead to 5-1. In the bottom the second, the Mustangs answered again with a run on three hits to reduce the Falcons lead to three after two innings.
 
In the top of the third the Falcons offense looked to keep rolling. After a fly out, Brielle Rosario hit a single and then advanced to second on a Mustang error. Paige Eakes then hit an RBI single to push the Falcons lead back to four. Hannah Dyer then singled and Alexa Burger walked to load the bases with one out. Kandice Schlabach and Jaden Keister then hit back-to-back two-RBI doubles to extend the Falcons lead to 10-2.
 
The Falcons offense was held for the first time in the game without a run in the top of the fourth, and Stevenson looked to take advantage of the opportunity to get back into the game. The Mustangs scored four runs on three hits to reduce the Falcons lead to 10-6.
 
The Falcons though responded in the top of the fifth. Kandice Schlabach led off the inning with a solo home run. Jaden Keister and Allie Book then hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with no outs. After Book stole second, McKenzie Shannon hit a sacrifice fly to left. Then Brielle Rosario hit an RBI single to push the Falcons lead to 13-6. Elianna Litwin then hit a single and Paige Eakes followed the single with a two-RBI double to push the Falcons lead to nine. After an Alexa Burger single, Kandice Schlabach hit a two-RBI triple to complete the cycle and give the Falcons a 17-6 lead.
 
The Falcons then closed out game one with a scoreless bottom of the fifth to give the Falcons the 17-6 win.
 
Kandice Schlabach had a monster day at the plate hitting for the cycle. Schlabach tallied five hits, eight RBIs, and scored three runs. Hannah Dyer and Paige Eakes each tallied four hits. Jaden Keister and Elianna Litwin each added two hits.
 
Game Two – Messiah 8, Stevenson 0 – 5 innings
The Falcons looked to keep the offense going in game two. Hannah Dyer led off the game with a bunt single and then stole second. After a sacrifice bunt from Alexa Burger, Kandice Schlabach hit a sacrifice fly to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Jaden Keister and Allie Book then hit back-to-back doubles to push the Falcons lead to 2-0.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Falcons looked to add to their lead in the top of the third. Alexa Burger led off the inning with a triple. After two outs could not score Burger, Allie Book hit an RBI triple to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead. Rebekah Wiley then hit an RBI triple of her own to push the Falcons lead to four through three innings.
 
The Falcons offense continued to score in the top of the fourth. Ali Wagner led off the inning with an infield single and then Paige Eakes singled on a bunt and the runners advanced to second and third due to a Mustang error. After a lineout, Alexa Burger hit a two-RBI triple to push the Falcons lead to 6-0. After a ground out, Jaden Keister hit an RBI single and Allie Book the hit a single to put runners on first and second. Rebekah Wiley then hit an RBI single to push the Falcons lead to 8-0 after the fourth.
 
Fallon Feaser and the Falcons then shut down the Mustang offense for the final two innings to win 8-0 in five innings.
 
Fallon Feaser pitched five shutout innings, allowing five hits, two walks, and struck out two batters. Allie Book led the Falcons offense with three hits, two RBIs, and a run. Alexa Burger, Jaden Keister, Rebekah Wiley, and Ali Wagner all totaled two hits.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to Middletown, Pa. for a doubleheader against the Lions of Penn St. Harrisburg on Monday, April 22 starting at 3:00 p.m.