CHESTER, PA. – On Saturday afternoon, the Messiah softball team secured the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth tournament with a pair of wins over the Pride of Widener University. The Falcons were able to use a six-run inning to defeat the Pride 8-6 in game one of the doubleheader. In game two, the Falcons used consistent hitting from
Kandice Schlabach,
Allie Book, and
Ali Wagner, plus a shutout performance from
Maggie Chinnadurai to sweep the Pride with an 8-0 win.
Up Next:
The Falcons travel to Annville, Pa. to take on the Flying Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College for a doubleheader on Monday, April 26 starting at 3:00 p.m.
How It Happened:
Game One: Messiah 8 Widener 6
The Falcons were a bit slow coming out the gates against the Pride. The first two innings, the Falcons would strand runners on base not being able to bring a run through.
Fallon Feaser however, was strong in the circle not allowing a single hit.
Things got started in the top of the third for Messiah but in an unconventional way. Despite
Hannah Dyer working her way on base, she would get caught stealing.
Haylie Fenstermaker would do a similar thing reaching first on another error. Following an advancement off a ground out, a walk from
Kandice Schlabach allowed Fenstermaker to advance to third on a passed ball putting runners on the corners.
Allie Book provided the first run of the game with an RBI single to give Messiah the 1-0 lead.
After another strong inning from Feaser, the Falcons really opened things up in the fourth inning.
Ali Wagner started the inning with a lead off single. After an advancement to second on a wild pitch, a couple of pitches later and a what could have been grounder off the bat of
Brielle Rosario turned into extra bases and a Wagner run. Following a walk, Fenstermaker put a ball into left center to give Messiah the 3-0 lead with two runners on. Feaser would reach on a fielder's choice, allowing another run to come through keeping the rally alive. A couple of pitches later and Schlabach made a statement with a long home run to left center giving Messiah the 7-0 lead.
The Pride, however, showed great resilience going from allowing six runs to putting up four of your own and cutting the Falcons lead to 7-4. A rare quiet inning from Messiah turned the tables in Widener's favor. A multi hit fifth inning put more pressure on the Falcons as the Pride now trailed 7-6.
Schlabach decided to do it herself in the sixth inning with a solo shot to right center to provide the Falcons a little cushion leading 8-6 with an inning and a half to go. Despite letting up the two runs,
Kelli Durbin finished strong to close out the game. A 1-2-3 sixth inning put Messiah in the driver's seat. Durbin would then close the door on the Pride in the seventh, giving the Falcons the No. 1 seed.
Stats:
Fallon Feaser started the game pitching three innings, striking out five, then
Kelli Durbin pitched the remainder of the game with three strikeouts of her own.
Kandice Schlabach finished 2-3 with two home runs. Six other Falcons would reach base via hit.
Game Two: Messiah 8 Widener 0
The Falcons wasted no time in game two opening up a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Both
Haylie Fenstermaker and
Fallon Feaser reached base, setting up a hot hitting
Kandice Schlabach to pick up a two RBI double.
Allie Book added to her strong day with an RBI double of her own, setting up
Maggie Chinnadurai to pick up the final RBI of the inning scoring Book off an error.
Through the first two innings, Chinnadurai was dominant once more in the circle not surrendering a single run. It wouldn't be until the third inning where the Falcons added two more to their total. Book's RBI triple, and
Ali Wagner's RBI single set up the Falcons to be in eight run rule territory, now leading 6-0.
Following another quick inning for Chinnadurai, the Falcons used hits smart base running from Fenstermaker to lead to an RBI ground out from Schlabach. Despite Book picking up another single, the Falcons scoring would stop there, but Messiah now led 7-0. Chinnadurai would retire the side 1-2-3 moving into the fifth inning, keeping her shutout alive.
The Falcons set themselves up to close the game with three more outs after singles from Wagner and
Hannah Dyer gave Messiah that key eighth run. Chinnadurai forced the first two batters to pop out, then
Shaylee Greenland closed the door on the Pride and put a cap on MAC Commonwealth regular season play.
Stats:
Maggie Chinnadurai pitched four and a third innings, striking out three batters in only 66 pitches.
Allie Book put together a 3-3 performance with two RBI,
Kandice Schlabach added two hits with three RBI.
Ali Wagner would also pick up two hits, and three other Falcons grabbed hits.
What's Up Next:
The Falcons travel to Annville, Pa. to take on the Flying Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College for a doubleheader on Monday, April 26 starting at 3:00 p.m.
