PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Messiah University softball team dropped both games on day two of the MAC Commonwealth Tournament to the Eastern University Eagles and the York College Spartans to be eliminated in the semifinal game. In game one, The Eagles scored three runs in the first to jump to a 3-0 lead. The Eagles added another run in the third to take a 4-0 lead. Both pitchers threw scoreless innings the rest of the game to give Eastern a 4-0 win and a trip for the Eagles to the MAC Commonwealth Championship.
 
Lydia Collison pitched four innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits. Maggie Chinnadurai pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Hannah Dyer reached base twice on a hit and a walk. Kandice Schlabach, Allie Book, and McKenzie Shannon each recorded a hit.
 
In game two, the Falcons took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. The Spartans responded with a big fourth inning, scoring five runs to take a 5-1 lead. The Falcons would not go away and scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to reduce the Spartans lead to 5-3. The Falcons got runners on second and third with two outs, but the Spartans stole the game tying hit with a diving play at third to hold on for a 5-3 win.
 
Fallon Feaser pitched 3.2 innings, allowing five runs (one earned), on three hits, two walks, and struck out four batters. Lydia Collison pitched 3.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Rebekah Wiley led the Falcons offense with three hits and a run. Kandice Schlabach and Allie Book each tallied two hits. Hannah Dyer reached base twice with a hit and a walk.
 
After being ranked in the latest regional rankings, the Falcons will wait and see if they are selected as an at-large team to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for May 13 on NCAA.com.
 
Game One – No. 1 Eastern 4, No. 2 Messiah 0 – MAC Commonwealth Tournament
The Falcons led off the game with a Hannah Dyer bunt single, but the Falcons could not record another hit and score remained tied at zero. The Eagles though started the game strong with three runs on three hits and one Falcon error to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
 
After a scoreless second, the Falcons looked to get a run on the board in the third. With two outs, Hannah Dyer reached first on a walk and then stole second, but the Falcons could not get a two-out rally going and the Eagles remained up 3-0. The Eagles though added another run in the bottom of the third on two hits to push the Eagles lead to 4-0.
 
The Falcons looked to get back into the game in the top of the fourth. Kandice Schlabach led off the inning with a single to short. After two outs, McKenzie Shannon singled to the shortstop to put runners on first and second. The Falcons though could not get a hit and the score remained 4-0 Eastern.
 
The Falcons looked for one final rally in the top of the seventh down by four and Allie Book started the inning off with a single. The Falcons though went down in order and the Eagles earned a trip to the MAC Commonwealth Championship with a 4-0 win.
 
Lydia Collison pitched four innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits. Maggie Chinnadurai pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Hannah Dyer reached base twice on a hit and a walk. Kandice Schlabach, Allie Book, and McKenzie Shannon each recorded a hit.
 
Game Two – No. 3 York 5, No. 2 Messiah 3  – MAC Semifinal Game
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Falcons looked to get the scoring started in the bottom of the third. With one out Hannah Dyer reached first on a hit by pitch, and then Alexa Burger grounded into a fielder's choice that got Dyer out at second. Kandice Schlabach then singled to center and Burger advanced to third. After a McKenzie Shannon walk loaded the bases, Allie Book hit an RBI single to left field to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons though only scored one with a pop out ending the inning.
 
The Spartans looked to answer in the top of the fourth. The Spartans scored five runs on three hits and two Falcon errors to put York up 5-1.
 
After two scoreless innings for the Falcons, they looked to make a comeback in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Rebekah Wiley singled up the middle. Elianna Litwin then singled to right field and after an error by the York right fielder, the runners advanced to second and third with one out. Paige Eakes then hit an RBI single to left field to put the Falcons within three. Elianna Litwin then scored on a wild pitch, but the Falcons could not add any more runs and the Spartans led 5-3 headed into the final inning.
 
After a scoreless top of the seventh from the Falcons, Messiah looked for one final chance to comeback in the bottom of the seventh. After two quick outs, Brielle Rosario kept the game alive with a single to left field. Rebekah Wiley then hit a ground rule double to left field to put runners on second and third. Elianna Litwin then laced a ball that looked like it was headed into left field for a game-tying hit, but the York third basemen made a great diving play and threw out Litwin from her knees to end the game. With the 5-3 win, the Spartans advance to the MAC Commonwealth Championship tomorrow against Eastern.
 
Fallon Feaser pitched 3.2 innings, allowing five runs (one earned), on three hits, two walks, and struck out four batters. Lydia Collison pitched 3.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Rebekah Wiley led the Falcons offense with three hits and a run. Kandice Schlabach and Allie Book each tallied two hits. Hannah Dyer reached base twice with a hit and a walk.
 
After being ranked in the latest regional rankings, the Falcons will wait and see if they are selected as an at-large team to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for May 13 on NCAA.com.