GLENSIDE, PA. – On Wednesday afternoon, the Messiah softball team took game one from the Knights of Arcadia University 9-1. The Falcons used an impressive seven run fourth inning to propel them to the five inning 9-1 victory. Rebekah Wiley, Fallon Feaser, and Brielle Rosario all grabbed RBI in the explosive fourth inning. In game two, Messiah would score the only run of the game in the top of the third which would prove to be the winning run. Hannah Dyer provided the only RBI giving Messiah the 1-0 win and the sweep.
 
Up Next:
The Falcons will travel to Frederick, MD on Saturday, April. 5th for a conference doubleheader with Hood College.
 
Game One: Messiah 9 Arcadia 1
How It Happened:
 
After a quiet first inning from both teams, the Falcons got to work in the second inning. Following a Kandice Schlabach walk, an Knight error off a Allie Book sacrifice bunt led to indecision from Arcadia allowing Kandice to score. Brielle Rosario forced a walk, leading to a single from Jaden Kiester to load the bases for Rebekah Wiley. Despite grounding out to second, Book would score from home to give Messiah the 2-0 lead.
 
The Knights responded will in the bottom half of the inning to cut the Falcon lead to 2-1, after a series of hits. The Falcons created trouble for the Knights in the top of the third as Fallon Feaser roped a triple into right field with only one out recorded. Arcadia, however, managed to work their way out the inning, with a chance to tie or gain the lead.
 
Despite causing a scare by putting two runners on advancing to second and third, Fallon Feaser was able to work her way out the inning striking out the side to head into the fourth holding the 2-1 lead. After escaping the bottom half of the third, the Falcons took full advantage of Arcadia not scoring. Messiah's bats woke up in the top of the fourth for seven runs off five hits. Rosario and Ali Wagner led things off with back-to-back hits, followed by Kiester advancing both runners to scoring position. A couple of pitches later Wiley smashes a double to left field to give Messiah the 4-1 advantage. Two batters later, Feasers single to right center scored two more. Rosario found herself back up to the plate and crushed a double to left center as the Falcons grew their lead to 9-1.
 
Following a quick fourth inning, the Falcons hoped to put the game out of reach in the fifth. Despite putting two runners on, Arcadia was able to exit the inning still trailing by eight. Feaser got caught in some trouble as the Knights put two runners on in the bottom half of the inning, but the Falcons did not allow a run to come through taking game one of the doubleheader 9-1.
 
Stats:
Fallon Feaser had a complete game going 2-4 at the plate with two RBI. Feaser would also pitch all five innings, striking out five. Brielle Rosario also finished with two hits in two plate appearances with three RBI. Four other Falcons grabbed hits in the win.
 
Game Two: Messiah 1 Arcadia 0
 
Both squads were silent through the first two innings, despite landing runners on base, neither team could bring one through to take the first lead of the game. It wasn't until the third inning where the Falcons were able to capture the first run of the game. Maggie Chinnadurai the starting pitcher led things off with a single to left center. Following a Rebekah Wiley sacrifice bunt, pitch runner Sierra Emery advanced all the way to third with one out. A couple of pitches later, Hannah Dyer hit a single to the pitcher allowing Emery to score and advancing to third on an errant throw. Although the Falcons brought home the run, they were unable to add on to it.
 
Leading 1-0, Chinnadurai was almost perfect through the next four innings. Despite runners reaching base, no run would come through for the Knights. However, over those same four innings, the Falcons were unable to get to the Arcadia pitcher and expand upon their 1-0 lead.
 
For the remainder of the game the Falcons would not put a single runner on base, but Messiah relied on their strong defense and senior pitching from Chinnadurai to hold off the Knights on their home turf.
 
Stats:
Maggie Chinnadurai pitched all seven innings, allowing four hits and striking out eight batters. Hannah Dyer led the team going 2-3 on the day with the only RBI. Kandice Schlabach and Chinnadurai provided the only other hits in game two.
 
What's Up Next:
The Falcons will take on conference opponent Hood College Saturday, April 5^th in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00p.m.