CHESTER, Pa. – On Friday afternoon, the Messiah University baseball team used four late runs to secure the 11-7 win at Widener and clinch the top overall seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. The Falcons took an early 1-0 lead on a solo home run from Dylan Beard in the top of the second. The Pride tied the game at one in the bottom of the third, but the Falcons retook the lead in the top of the fourth with a run to put the score at 2-1. With the game looking like a pitcher's duel, the Falcons scored five runs in the top of the fifth, capped off by a two-run home run from Dylan Beard to give the Falcons a 7-1 lead. The Pride battled back with five runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth to reduce the Falcons lead to 7-6 through five innings. The Falcons then extended their lead to three in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run from Evan Wagaman. The Falcons added two more in the top of the ninth and the Pride scored a run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Falcons earned the 11-7 win to secure home-field advantage in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs. Evan Wagaman led the Falcons with three hits, including a home run, and five RBIs. Dylan Beard added two home runs and three RBIs. Luke Ott also added two hits, and a run scored. Trey Harper pitched 2.2 scoreless innings out of the pen with three strikeouts.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Pride of Widener University for a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.

Messiah 11, Widener 7
After a scoreless first inning, the Falcons got on the board with a leadoff solo home run from Dylan Beard to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
 
The Pride answered back in the bottom of the third with a run of an RBI single to tie the game at one.
 
The Falcons though retook the lead in the top of the fourth as Dylan Beard came all the around to score off an error by the Pride's center fielder to give the Falcons the 2-1 lead.
 
After Daniel Knight worked around a two-out bases loaded situation in the bottom of the fourth, the Falcons looked to extend their lead in the top of the fifth. Luke Ott led off the inning with an infield single and then Dustin Isanogle doubled down the left-field line to put runners on second and third with no outs. Isaiah Parido then hit an RBI groundout to give the Falcons a 3-1 lead. After Jarrett Gordon was hit by a pitch and a strikeout, Evan Wagaman hit a two-run double to left field to push the Falcons lead to four. Dylan Beard followed the double with his second home run of the afternoon to extend the Falcons lead to 7-1 into the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Pride though, rallied for five runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth on four hits to reduce the Falcons lead to 7-6 through five innings of play.
 
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Falcons looked to add some insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Jarrett Gordon reached first on a hit by pitch and after a ground out advanced Gordon to second, Evan Wagaman ripped a two-run home run to left center to push the Falcons lead to 9-6.
 
Both teams went scoreless in the eighth, but the Falcons looked to add some more runs in the top of the ninth. With one out, Isaiah Parido hit a single up the middle and then Jarrett Gordon reached on a bunt single. After Parido and Gordon stole second and third, Drew Hurst walked to load the bases. Evan Wagaman hit an RBI single and then Gordon scored on a wild pitch to put the Falcons up 11-6 headed into the final frame.
 
The Pride scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on a solo home run, but the Falcons got the final out on a fly out to earn the 11-7 win and the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament.
 
Stats
Evan Wagaman led the Falcons with three hits, including a home run, and five RBIs. Dylan Beard added two home runs and three RBIs. Luke Ott also added two hits, and a run scored. Jarrett Gordon added a hit, and three runs scored. Trey Harper pitched 2.2 scoreless innings out of the pen with three strikeouts.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Pride of Widener University for a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.