ARLINGTON, VA. – On Wednesday afternoon, the Messiah Softball team defeated the Saints of Marymount University 6-2 in game one of the doubleheader. The Falcons were led by strong pitching from Fallon Feaser only giving up two runs in the second inning, and home runs from Allie Book and Kandice Schlabach to lead the team in the impressive game one win. In game two, the Falcons used dominant pitching from Maggie Chinnadurai as she retired 13 batters on her way to her 200^th career strikeout and fifth shutout of the season with a 6-0 victory.
 
Up Next:
The Falcons will host York College in a big MAC Commonwealth game Saturday, April 12th.
 
Game One: Messiah 6 Marymount 2
How It Happened:
After a strong first inning from both starting pitchers, the Falcons were able to take their first lead of the game in big fashion. At the heart of the lineup, Kandice Schlabach led things off with a walk. Then in the five spot, Allie Book would pick up her first career home run with a two-run shot to center field, giving the Falcons the 2-0 lead. Following a Brielle Rosario single, later advancing all the way to third after a series of errors. A sacrifice bunt from Jaden Keister added one more to the Falcons total.
 
Heading into the bottom half of the second down 3-0, the Saints came out motivated. After a series of hits, the Saints now found themselves on the board trailing 3-1. One hit later, and Marymount cut the lead to 3-2, the Falcons stayed calm despite surrendering the two runs to escape the inning still with the lead.
 
Messiah found themselves with the heart of the lineup again hoping to extend the lead. Despite two of the first three batters flying out and one on base, following a Rosario walk, Ali Wagner delivered with a long double to left field to score two more, giving Messiah the 5-2 lead.
 
Fallon Feaser looked strong over the next inning and half holding on to the lead heading into the fifth inning. After an out from the lead off batter, Schlabach showed her power with a solo home run to center field extending the lead to 6-2. Despite having two runners on base, Feaser again settled in to move into the sixth up four.
 
After a lead off single from Jaden Keister, the Falcons next three batters popped out to move into the bottom of the sixth. Feaser continued her strong outing, breezing through the lineup 1-2-3, entering the final inning of the game up 6-2. Despite giving up two singles, the Falcons got out the inning without surrendering a run, defeating the Saints 6-2 in game one of today's doubleheader.
 
Stats:
Allie Book, Kandice Schlabach, Brielle Rosario, Ali Wagner, and Jaden Keister all picked up a hit. Book and Schlabach both grabbed home runs in the win. Fallon Feaser pitched a complete game, striking out seven batters, only giving up two runs.
 
Game Two: Messiah 6 Marymount 0
 
As they do so often in game twos, the Falcons were able to jump out to an early lead. Hannah Dyer walked her way on base with a good at bat, advancing all the way to third following a steal and a ground ball to second. Fallon Feaser did her job in the three spot with a single to center field to give Messiah the first lead of the game.
 
Following a quick bottom half of the inning for Maggie Chinnadurai, the Falcons hoped to expand upon the lead in the top of the second. Despite two quick outs, Jaden Keister stayed hot with a single to keep the inning alive. However, the Saints were able to strand the runner at first, keeping the Falcons lead at 1-0. Chinnadurai continued to dominate in the circle striking out the side with east entering the third.
 
Despite the first two batters not able to reach base, Feaser kept the inning alive with a single to left field. Schlabach followed it up with a walk to put runners on first and second for Allie Book. Books impressive hitting continued with a RBI single, giving Messiah the 2-0 advantage. Once again, a three up three down from the Saints, allows the Falcons to hold on to that two-run lead.
 
Chinnadurai continued to be lights out in the circle with the Saints seemingly unable to get to the Senior pitcher. The Fourth inning is where the Falcons bats would explode to open up the game. Ali Wagner got things rolling with a lead off single, advancing her way to third following some Marymount errors off a Rebekah Wiley hit. Placing runners on second and third, Dyer roped a double into left field to move the runners up extending the Messiah lead. Following a Lucy Murphy RBI ground out, a passed ball allowed Dyer to trot home giving the Falcons the 5-0 lead. A single from Feaser and a walk from Schlabach allowed Book to pick up another RBI with a single into right field, aggressive base running would end the inning for the Falcons but not before taking a 6-0 advantage.
 
For the final three innings, Chinnadurai was dominant in the circle picking up eight strikeouts over the remainder of the game. Despite the Saints putting at least one runner on in each of the innings, the Falcons defense was structurally sound not letting anything through, as they went on to complete the sweep over Marymount University.
 
Stats:
Fallon Feaser finished 3-4 on the day with one RBI. Allie Book and Ali Wagner each picked up two hits, while Hannah Dyer, Brielle Rosario, and Jaden Keister all tallied one hit. Maggie Chinnadurai picked up her 200^th career strikeout, retiring 13 batters.
 
What's Up Next:
Barring weather, the Falcons will host York College of Pa for a MAC Commonwealth potential seeding implicating doubleheader. Game one is set for 1:00pm on Saturday, April. 12th.