GRANTHAM, PA. - On Thursday afternoon, the Messiah Softball team split with fellow top seeded Eastern Univeristy to improve their chances of hosting the MAC Commonwealth playoffs. In game one, the Falcons battled hard but back-to-back two run innings from the Eagles were just enough to hold off the Falcons 4-2 in what was a pitching dual. In game two, Messiah used a massive six-run first inning including a three-run home run from Brielle Rosario to provide them with just enough cushion to hold on the rest of the game. Despite the Eagles battling back to cut it two 6-4 in the third inning, the Falcons used RBIs from Lucy Murphy, Ali Wagner, and Fallon Feaser in the third and fourth innings to fend off the Eagles push and give them the 10-5 win. Messiah's top seeded hopes now rest on their shoulders with only one MAC Commonwealth series remaining in the season.

Game One: Eastern 4 Messiah 2
How It Happened:
The First two innings proved that both teams starting pitchers were up for the tasks of trying to slow down two electric offenses. Still scoreless, the Eagles finally broke through in the top of the third getting to Fallon Feaser. The Eagles offense used multiple singles to score two runs and give themselves the early 2-0 lead. The Falcons, however, responded well in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a single from Brielle Rosario and a double from Hannah Dyer to put runners in scoring position with one out. Lucy Murphy would complete her job at the plate with a sacrifice fly to left field to cut the Eagles lead to 2-1.
 
Unfortunately for the Falcons, the Eagles had settled in on Feaser in the circle putting two runners on base with one out. After an advancement on a groundout, a walk would load the bases setting up a single to give the Eagles a 4-1 lead and force a pitching change.
 
Over the next two innings, Kelli Durbin was able to control the Eagles bats keeping them at four runs. The Falcons, however, could not get their bats going to cut into the deficit despite having runners in scoring position in the fifth inning.
 
Heding into the seventh inning, Feaser reentered the game to pitch in the final inning. Despite surrendering a single, she would work her way out the inning, setting up what could be a walk off or tie situation. Maggie Chinnadurai swung the momentum with her leadoff double and a walk from Ali Wagner put the tying run at the plate with no outs. Following a line out, Rosario worked her way on base due to an error from the Eagles to load the bases with only one out. Dyer could not connect the barrel to the ball forcing the Falcons down to their final out. Murphys hit would force an error allowing the Falcons to score one more with the bases still loaded, but the Eagles escaped the late rally and took game one 4-2.  
 
Stats:
Fallon Feaser pitched four innings, striking out two batters. Kelli Durbin would pitch two innings, also striking out two. Allie Book and Hannah Dyer each would have two hits, while Maggie Chinnadurai and Brielle Rosario rounded out the hit column with one a piece.
 
Game Two: Messiah 10 Eastern 5
Playoff seeding implications on the line, the Falcons knew they had to win one. After a quick inning from senior Maggie Chinnadurai, the Falcons were primed for a big inning. Hannah Dyer as she does so often led things off with a walk. After advancing all the way to third on a Lucy Murphy sacrifice bunt, Kandice Schlabach was set up to give the Falcons the first lead. A couple of pitches later, she would do just that with a single up the middle. Following back-to-back singles from Allie Book and Maggie Chinnadurai and the Falcons now led 3-0 with runners on second and first. After a groundout, Brielle Rosario hit a rocket over the left field fence to give Messiah a 6-0 lead.
 
The Eagles managed to remain calm as a veteran team would and got to a what seemed to be an untouchable Chinnadurai to score two runs in the top of the second. Following a quick inning from the Falcons, the Eagles once again provided life to their team with two more runs in the top of the third to cut the Messiah lead to 6-4. The Falcons, however, finally got one back with a book double, setting up Ali Wagner to get a RBI single to extend the lead to 7-4.
 
Chinnadurai recollected herself in the top of the fourth to get through the inning with ease. Messiah took advantage of the quick turnaround with Dyer smashing a lead off triple to open the inning. Following a Murphy single to score Dyer, Feaser came up looking to keep the runs coming. A couple of pitches later and the sophomore blew the game wide open with a bomb to center field giving Messiah the 10-4 advantage.
 
Despite a couple of scares from the Eagles, the next two innings went by fast as both pitchers found a second wind late to set up the pivotal seventh inning. Eastern was not going to roll over easy for Messiah as a leadoff home run shifted the momentum in favor in the Eagles. Following a strikeout, the next three batters would reach to load the bases with only one out. Chinnadurai proved why she is a leader on the team retiring the final two batters to hand Messiah the 10-5 win.
 
Stats:
Maggie Chinnadurai pitched all seven innings, striking out six batters. Both Allie Book and Fallon Feaser finished with three hits, including Fallon's Home Run. Kandice Schlabach would finish two for three, while five other Falcons grabbed hits.
 
What's Up Next:
The Falcons will host the University of Mary Washington Wednesday, April 23^rd at 3:00 and 5:00p.m.