FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – On Monday afternoon, the Messiah softball team defeated Methodist College 5-2 in Game one of the double-header. The Falcons used strong pitching from Fallon Feaser throwing the complete game, along with an explosive fourth inning to open the game for Messiah.  Hannah Dyer and Jaden Keister both had impressive performances at the plate accounting for five of the Falcons eight hits. In game two, the Falcons used strong pitching from Maggie Chinnadurai to close out the game not allowing a single run through four innings pitched. Along with solid at bats from Allie Book, Kandice Schlabach, and Maddie Williams as they led the charge in a big fifth inning to score what would be the game winning run, taking the second game 6-5.

Up Next
The Falcons will take on the University of Mary Washington Saturday, Feb. 22.
 
How It Happened
Game One - 5-2
The Falcons were able to get on the board in the first inning thanks to a Hannah Dyer base hit, followed by smart base running off a throwing error on Haylie Fenstermaker's bunt to advance all the way to third. Fallon Feaser would bring her home on a sacrifice fly to right field, giving Messiah the 1-0 lead.
 
After the Monarchs escaped the rest of the first beyond the one run, Feaser stepped in the circle for a quick one-two-three bottom half of the first. Following a quick half inning from the Falcons, the Monarchs managed to get on the board in the bottom of the second to tie the game off a couple singles and a double.
 
Following a quick third inning, heading to the plate in the top of the fourth, Messiah looked to open up the game. Kandice Schlabach managed to force a walk, followed by an Allie Book double to left center bringing her home. Now with a runner on second, Jaden Keister would single to left center advancing on an error leading to Book reaching home. Following a line out, Kylie Thompson would advance Keister to third on a ground out. A fielding error off a Murphy hit let Keister reach home, but a little too much aggression allowed the Monarchs to throw Murphy out at second to end the inning.
 
Leading 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Falcons were able to escape the inning unharmed despite surrendering two walks. Methodist University however, got through the top half of the fifth forcing the top of the Falcons lineup to go one-two-three. The Monarchs would take advantage of the quick half inning by sneaking two singles up the middle, advancing off a fielding error, leading to a runner scoring on a sacrifice fly. However, despite surrendering the run, Feaser would get through the rest of the inning holding on to a 4-2 lead.
 
Despite causing chaos in the top of the sixth with two runners on Messiah could not put through a run to extend the lead. The Monarchs were looking to cut away at the lead, but Feaser had other plans as she stepped into the circle striking out the first two batters and forcing a ground out to enter the final inning up 4-2.
 
Messiah added another run to their total in the top of the seventh, as a Dyer double set up Feaser to bring her home on a single to give the Falcons a 5-2 lead. Heading into the bottom half of the seventh, despite Feaser surrendering a first at bat walk, put away three straight batters to close out the game.
 
Fallon Feaser had a strong performance for the Falcons pitching the complete game with four strikeouts. Hannah Dyer led the Falcons with three hits in four at bats accounting for two runs, while Jaden Keister nabbed two hits, along with Feaser, Kandice Schlabach, and Allie Book all scoring runs for the Falcons.
 
Game Two – Messiah 6 Methodist University 5
 
The Falcons fell behind early in the first following a quick top half of the inning, the Monarchs managed to bring home two runners off two hits and a field error. However, the Falcons responded in the top of the second, as Allie Book roped a double to left field, followed by Jaden Kiester reaching on a throwing error allowing Book to round third to score. Despite back-to-back outs, Keister was able to advance to third setting up a single from Lucy Murphy to tie the game up at 2-2.
 
The Falcons would escape the bottom of the inning with strong fielding to knab two runners on base, followed by a Kelli Durbin strikeout to close out the inning still tied. The middle of the lineup would come up big in the third.  Kandice Schlabach would double to left, setting up a Book single along with some throwing errors to score one with her on third. Keister would round out the inning with a single to score book giving Messiah the 4-2 lead. However, the Monarchs would explode in the third securing three straight hits leading to one run getting home. Following a strikeout, a wild pitch would set up a single to tie the game up, leading to another single giving Methodist the 5-4 lead.
 
After surrendering the lead, the Falcons looked to tie it back up in the fourth, however, despite putting two on the Monarchs still held a one-point lead. Maggie Chinnadurai would come up big for Messiah striking out one and forcing two ground outs to set up a pivotal fifth inning. Fallon Feaser got things started with a walk, then stealing to put her in scoring position with Schlabach at the plate. Schlabach continued her strong day with a single to center putting runners on the corners with no outs. Book would bring her home with a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game up at five a piece. Despite back-to-back outs from Messiah with still a runner on second, Maddie Williams got in on the action with a double to right scoring Schlabach and regaining the Falcons lead at 6-5.
 
The Monarchs were able to put the Falcons In a pinch getting the first three runners on to begin the bottom of the fifth. However, a flyout leading to back-to-back runners being thrown out at home ended the inning for the Monarchs. After a quick sixth inning from both teams, the seventh was setting up to be a nail biter with Messiah leading 6-5.
 
The Falcons were able to get the first batter on, as Keister reached on a fielding error. Following a sacrifice bunt to advance her to second base, with one out Kiester was in prime position to score. However, despite moving to third on a ground ball, a line out to right closed out the inning only leading by one run. Chinnadurai would finish the game for the Falcons by striking out two of the final three batters and forcing a ground out to close out the day with a 6-5 win.
 
Game Leaders
Kelli Durbin started in the circle for the Falcons going 2.2 IP, striking out three batters. Maggie Chinnadurai would finish the game with 4.1 IP, 0.0 ERA, and four strikeouts. Allie Book and Kandice Schlabach both secured two hits accounting for four of the Falcons six runs. Fallon Feaser, Jaden Keister, Maddie Williams, and Lucy Murphy all notched a hit in the win.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will take on the Eagles of Mary Washington on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 12:30 & 2:30pm in their first home series of the season.