LEBANON, Pa. – On Monday afternoon, the Messiah Softball team split with the Dutchwomen of Lebanon Valley College. The Falcons dropped an offensive game one 12-7 but responded well with a defensive shutdown 6-1 win in game two. On the day, Brielle Rosario, Allie Book, Fallon Feaser, Rebekah Wiley, and Ali Wagner all finished with three hits, while Kandice Schlabach picked up two of her own.
 
Up Next:
The Falcons will take on Alvernia University in game one of the MAC Commonwealth tournament Thursday, May. 1st.
 
How It Happened:
Game One: Lebanon Valley College 12 Messiah 7
 After a quick first inning from both teams, the Falcons were able to strike first in the top of the second. Allie Book led the inning off with a single to left, one batter later Book would advance on an Ali Wagner single. Brielle Rosario would load the bases on a single of her own, setting up Rebekah Wiley to put one through the middle and giving the Falcons the 2-0 lead.
 
However, the Dutchwomen were able to capitalize off four hits to put three runs across the board and take a 3-2 edge over the Falcons. Messiah's bats remained hot despite letting up the early lead. Fallon Feaser led the inning off with a single, putting the hot hitting Kandice Schlabach at the plate. Following a good at bat, Schlabach would rope a two-run home run to center field to regain the Falcons lead. Wagner and Rosario supplied the other run with a single and a double back-to-back, giving Messiah the 5-3 advantage.
 
Feaser was able to stall the Dutchwomen bats allowing the Falcons to take advantage of the scoreless inning in the top of the fourth. Hannah Dyer put herself on base stealing second as she does so often. Following a walk and a ground out to advance both runners, Schlabach came through once more with a single to center field adding to the Falcons total now leading 7-3.
 
The bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth were both quiet as neither team added runs to the scoreboard. However, the Dutchwomen used four hits and two errors to tie the game up at 7-7 and force a pitching change from Messiah. After Kelli Durbin finished the fifth, the Falcons had an opportunity to swing the momentum back in their direction. Unfortunately, the Falcons were retired 1-2-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth all squared away. That was where things went from bad to worse for Messiah. The Dutchwomen had all the confidence and took advantage of the new pitcher tallying four hits and five runs to put the game out of reach. Despite surrendering a single to Rosario in the seventh, the Dutchwomen got through the inning without giving up a run and took game one 12-7.
Stats:
Fallon Feaser pitched four innings striking out four batters. Brielle Rosario picked up three hits in four at bats. Kandice Schlabach and Ali Wagner both grabbed two hits apiece, while four other Falcons grabbed hits.
 
Game Two: Messiah 6 Lebanon Valley 1
Game two was quiet for the most part as senior pitcher Maggie Chinnadurai backed up her team only giving up one run on six hits. The Falcons were able to take advantage early as they got to the Dutchwoman pitcher. Messiah used three singles from Haylie Fenstermaker, Fallon Feaser, Alli Book, including a fielder's choice to score the first run of the game. Messiah had two runners on as Ali Wagner stepped to the plate and out a single through the right side to give the Falcons the 3-0 lead.
 
Following a quick inning and a half, the Falcons were able to add to their total in the top of the third. Kandice Schlabach reached on an error, allowing the aggressive Book to place a triple down the left field line and score one. One batter later and Book would score from third off an RBI ground out to take a commanding 5-0 lead.
 
The Dutchwoman were able to take one back from Messiah in the bottom of the third, but Chinnadurai worked herself out the jam and the Falcons still held the four-run lead. After getting another run in the top of the fourth thanks to hits from Rebekah Wiley and Feaser, all the Falcons had to do was finish the remaining two innings strong.
 
Chinnadurai and her defense would do just that as she struck out four batters, and let her defense do all the work with ground outs and fly outs. The Falcons would only have to worry about a total of three batters reaching base in the remaining innings, but no runner would score as Messiah held on to win 6-1 and close out the regular season.
 
Stats:
Maggie Chinnadurai picked up the win with five strikeouts through seven innings. Fallon Feaser, Allie Book, and Rebekah Wiley all finished with two hits. Ali Wagner, Kylie Thompson, and Haylie Fenstermaker all grabbed a hit in the win.
 
What's Up Next:
The Falcons will host the MAC Commonwealth tournament as the top seed beginning Thursday, May 1st against Alvernia University at 3:30p.m.