GRANTHAM, PA. – On Tuesday afternoon, the Messiah softball team walked off Alvernia University 5-4 in the bottom of the eleventh inning of game one of the doubleheader. After a late fielding error from Alvernia to tie the game up in the sixth, the game would have to be decided in extra innings. After a quick three innings, the Golden Wolves would finally strike first in the 10^th to gain a 4-3 lead. Kandice Schlabach returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning to square things up at 4-4. After a shutdown inning from Maggie Chinnadurai, Ali Wagner would bring through the winning run in the bottom of the 11^th. In game two, despite falling down 3-0 in the top of the first, the Falcons responded behind a Kandice Schlabach home run and a big three-run fifth inning to capture the 5-3 win in the sixth inning due to daylight loss.
 
Up Next: The Falcons will take on Albright College Saturday, Mar. 22nd.

 
Game One: Messiah 5 Alvernia 4
How It Happened:
After a quiet first inning from both teams, the Falcons were able to strike first in the bottom of the second. Brielle Rosario led the inning off with a triple to left center, followed by Ali Wagner bringing her home off a single through the right side.
 
Following another strong in from Fallon Feaser in the circle, it wouldn't be until the top of the fourth where the Golden Wolves finally got on the board to tie the game up at 1-1. The Falcons however, stayed composed and bounced back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hannah Dyer worked her way on the base path after being hit by pitch, advancing to second off a Lucy Murphy bunt. After stealing third, Feaser finished the job with a double to right center giving Messiah the 2-1 lead.
 
The top of the sixth was good for the Golden Wolves as they worked their way around the bases for two runs, gaining their first lead of the game. Now trailing 3-2 in the sixth, Messiah went back to work. Allie Book led things off with a single to center, advancing to third off a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. Two outs on the board, another pivotal error allowed Book to score to tie the game back up.
 
Despite pitching changes from both squads, the next three innings went by without a single run being scored as we headed into the top of the tenth still tied at 3-3. However, it was not until Alvernia took advantage of a free runner being put on second, leading to back-to-back singles scoring the runner, giving the Golden Wolves the 4-3 lead. Maggie Chinnadurai remained composed despite the run to get through the inning with limited damage setting up the bottom of the tenth. Chinnadurai would advance the free runner to third off a grounder, setting up Kandice Schlabach at the plate. Schlabach came through with a single up the middle to tie the game up at 4-4.
 
Heading into the eleventh inning, a quick three up and down for Chinnaduari put the Falcons in prime position to walk off the game. They would do just that on the first batter, as Ali Wagners single down the right field line scored Rosario from second to hand Messiah the 5-4 win.
 
Stats:
Fallon Feaser pitched six innings striking out four. Maggie Chinnadurai picked up the win, pitching four innings striking out three only surrendering one run. Fallon Feaser, Allie Book, Brielle Roasrio, and Ali Wagner all grabbed two hits in the win.

Game Two: Messiah 5 Alvernia 3
How It Happened:
After a long first game, both teams had to bounce back for game two of this conference opener. The Golden Wolves would do just that in the top of the first, getting on the board for three runs to put Messiah in the early deficit. Despite a single from Fallon Feaser, the Falcons could not muster up a run to head into the second.
 
Following a quick second inning from Kelli Durbin, Kandice Schlabach got things rolling with a bomb to left center putting Messiah on the board. However, the Falcons could not add on to the lead off home run still trailing 3-1. After another strong outing from Durbin in the third, the Falcons speed put them in prime position to score as Wiley singled, followed by two bunts from Hannah Dyer and Lucy Murphy to load the bases with one out. The Falcons, however, could not take advantage of the base runners heading into the fourth still down 3-1.
 
A Three up and down for Durbin in the fourth put Messiah in a good position to cut into this deficit as the sun goes down here on a lightless Starry field. An error from the shortstop put Book on first, leading to pitch runner Sierra Emery entering the game. Despite a long fly out, Ali Wagner came through in the next at bat with a long double to left center, cutting the Golden Wolves lead to 3-2, but the inning would end there.
 
As daylight dwindled down calling the game became a reality in the fifth with Alvernia leading 3-2. Durbin continued her strong day with another quick inning, setting up the Falcons to potentially take the lead. Rebekah Wiley got things started with a double to lead off, followed by a bunt single from Dyer advancing Wiley to third and herself to second. Lucy Murphy provided the leading run with a single through the left side, leading to a throwing error to score both runners and gain a 4-3 lead. One batter later, Schlabach once again stepped up with a single to right to score Murphy and give Messiah the 5-3 cushion and the win due to the game being called with a lack of daylight.
 
Stats:
Hannah Dyer, Lucy Murphy, Kandice Schlabach, and Rebekah Wiley all tallied two hits. Kelli Durbin pitched five innings striking out four, while Maggie Chinnadurai came in for the save retiring all three batters in the sixth inning.
 
What's Up Next:
The Falcons will take on Albright College Saturday, March. 22nd at 1:00 and 3:00p.m.