PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Messiah University softball team used a five-run second inning to defeat the Spartans of York College in the opening round of the MAC Commonwealth tournament on Thursday afternoon. The Spartans opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first. In the bottom of the second, the Falcons responded in a big way. The Falcons scored five runs, including a two-out three run opposite field home run from
Alexa Burger to give the Falcons a 5-1 lead. The Spartans responded with two runs in the top of the fourth, but the Falcons scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to have to 6-3 lead. Both teams held each other without a run for the final 2 and a half innings to keep the final score at 6-3.
Lydia Collison earned the win in the circle with 3.2 innings pitched with three earned runs on six hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Fallon Feaser closed the game out with 3.1 innings pitched, allowing one hit one walk, and two strikeouts.
Alexa Burger led the Falcons offense with a three-run home run.
Hannah Dyer and
Allie Book each tallied one hit.
Up next, the Falcons will play the winner of Eastern and Alvernia on Friday, May 3 at 12:00 p.m.
How It Happened
The Spartans got on the board first with a solo home run in the top of the first. After a scoreless bottom of the first, the Falcons looked to answer in the bottom of the second.
Allie Book led off the bottom of the second with a single and then
Jaden Keister was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Brielle Rosario then reached first on an error by the York second basemen and then the York second basemen threw the ball away after a fielding error and Keister and Book scored to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead.
Elianna Litwin walked, and after two outs,
Alexa Burger hit a two-out opposite field home run to extend the Falcons lead to 5-1 through two innings.
After a scoreless third, the Spartans looked for an answer. The Spartans scored two runs on four hits but left three runners on base and reduced the Falcons lead to 5-3. The Falcons led off the bottom of the fourth with
Paige Eakes reaching on an error and then
Hannah Dyer hitting a bunt single. After
Alexa Burger sacrifice bunted the runners to second and third,
Kandice Schlabach hit a sacrifice fly, but Dyer was thrown out after the run crossed the plate putting the Falcons up 6-3 after four innings of play.
The Falcons did not score anymore runs but they did not need to as
Fallon Feaser closed the door on the game with three scoreless innings.
Lydia Collison earned the win in the circle with 3.2 innings pitched with three earned runs on six hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Fallon Feaser closed the game out with 3.1 innings pitched, allowing one hit one walk, and two strikeouts.
Alexa Burger led the Falcons offense with a three-run home run.
Hannah Dyer and
Allie Book each tallied one hit.
Next
The Falcons will play the winner of Eastern and Alvernia on Friday, May 3 at 12:00 p.m.
