MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The Messiah University softball team were powered by a strong offensive performance to sweep the Lions of Penn St. Harrisburg on Monday afternoon. In game one, the Falcons jumped to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. After the Falcons added a run in the third, the Falcons added two more in the third. The Falcons then broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning to take a 10-0 lead. The Lions scored one run in the fourth and two in the fifth, but the Falcons lead was too much to overcome, and Messiah took game one, 10-3. Lydia Collison pitched a complete game allowing three earned runs, on six hits, a walk, and struck out four Lions' batters. Hannah Dyer and Brielle Rosario led the Falcons offense with three hits. Alexa Burger, McKenzie Shannon, and Kandice Schlabach added two hits, and each hit a home run.
 
In game two, the Lions opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the first. The Falcons scored a run in the top of the second, but then both pitchers shut down the offense for two scoreless innings before the top of the fifth. The Falcons came into the top of the fifth down by two, but then scored 10 runs to take an 11-3 lead. The Falcons prevented any runs in the bottom of the fifth to take game two, 11-3 in five innings. Fallon Feaser pitched all five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and struck out three Lions' batters. Alexa Burger and Rebekah Wiley led the Falcons with two hits. Burger also led the Falcons with four RBIs. Maddie Williams also tallied a hit and three RBIs.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Pride of Widener University for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m.
 
Game One – Messiah 10, Penn St. Harrisburg 3
The Falcons looked to open the scoring in the top of the first with Hannah Dyer leading off the game with a double down the left field line. Alexa Burger then hit a bunt single, to put runners on first and third with no outs. Kandice Schlabach then hit a two-RBI double to put the Falcons up 2-0.
 
After the Falcons got the Lions down in order they looked to push their lead after a strong start to the game. Brielle Rosario led off the inning with a triple to center field. After two outs, Hannah Dyer hit an RBI double to left field that pushed the Falcons lead to 3-0.
 
After another scoreless inning from Lydia Collison, the Falcon bats looked to continue to add to their lead. Jaden Keister led off the inning with a single and after a pop out, McKenzie Shannon hit a two-run home run to left field to push the Falcons lead to 5-0.
 
The Falcons continued to shut down the Lions' offense and looked to add more run support in the top of the fourth. After a pop out, Hannah Dyer singled to third base and then stole second. Alexa Burger then hit a two-run home run to left center to push the Falcons lead to seven. The next batter, Kandice Schlabach then hit a solo homerun for back-to-back home runs for the Falcons. After a pop out, Allie Book walked and then McKenzie Shannon singled and both runners advanced to second and third after an error. Brielle Rosario then hit a two-RBI single to center to give the Falcons a 10-0 lead. The Lions looked to get back into the inning with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to reduce the Falcons lead to nine.
 
After the first scoreless inning of the game for the Falcons, the Lions scored two runs on three hits and a walk to reduce the Falcons lead to 10-3.
 
Both teams did not add any more runs for the rest of the games, with Lydia Collison closing the game to earn the complete game.
 
Lydia Collison pitched a complete game allowing three earned runs, on six hits, a walk, and struck out four Lions' batters. Hannah Dyer and Brielle Rosario led the Falcons offense with three hits. Alexa Burger, McKenzie Shannon, and Kandice Schlabach added two hits, and each hit a home run.
 
Game Two – Messiah 11, Penn St. Harrisburg – 5 innings
After a scoreless top of the first, the Lions took advantage and scored three runs on three hits to jump to a 3-0 lead.
 
The Falcons though looked to answer, with Rebekah Wiley leading off the top of the second with a double down the right field line. Wiley advanced to third on a passed ball and after a Falcons' strikeout, Maddie Williams grounded out to first, but Wiley scored to reduce the Lions lead to 3-1.
 
Both pitchers settled into the game and threw scoreless innings in the third and the fourth.
 
In the top of the fifth, after a ground out, Paige Eakes hit a double to right field and then Hannah Dyer was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Alexa Burger hit a two-RBI triple to tie the game at three. Kandice Schlabach then walked and then stole second to put runners on second and third. McKenzie Shannon then walked to load the bases and then Allie Book hit a two-RBI single to give the Falcons a 5-3 lead. After a flyout, Brielle Rosario hit an RBI double to push the Falcons lead to three. Maddie Williams kept the Falcons offensive spurt going with a two-RBI single to give the Falcons an 8-3 lead. After a Paige Eakes walk, Hannah Dyer hit an RBI double to give the Falcons a six-run lead. Alexa Burger then hit a two-RBI single to give the Falcons a 11-3 lead after coming into the inning trailing by two.
 
Fallon Feaser then shut down the Lions in the bottom of the fifth to give the Falcons a run rule five inning win.
 
Fallon Feaser pitched all five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and struck out three Lions' batters. Alexa Burger and Rebekah Wiley led the Falcons with two hits. Burger also led the Falcons with four RBIs. Maddie Williams also tallied a hit and three RBIs.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Pride of Widener University for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m.