GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Thursday afternoon, the Messiah softball team defeated Alvernia University 12-1 on day one of the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. The Falcons used back-to-back explosive innings in the second and third to propel them past the Golden Wolves.
Maggie Chinnadurai and
Kelli Durbin combined for five strikeouts, three hits, and one earned run in the impressive outing.
Up Next:
The Falcons will take on Eastern University in the winner's bracket Friday, May. 2nd at 12:00p.m.
How It Happened:
The Falcons were able to get out of the first inning despite two runners reaching base for the Golden Wolves. In the bottom of the first, the Falcons would go down in order for an uncharacteristic three up three down. However, following a quick inning from
Maggie Chinnadurai, the Falcons bats exploded in the bottom of the second.
The First four batters would reach base, including back-to-back singles from
Kandice Schlabach and
Allie Book. A walk from
Brielle Rosario followed by a wild pitch on a
Ali Wagner at bat allowed one runner to score. Wagner would again load the bases for Messiah after being hit at the plate, leading to once again back-to-back singles this time from Chinnadurai and
Rebekah Wiley to extend the lead to 4-0. Even with a pitching change,
Hannah Dyer roped a ball into right center for a bases clearing triple. Two batters later and Schlabach returned to the plate for another RBI single giving the Falcons a 7-0 lead.
Alvernia managed to get one run back off a leadoff walk and a double to left center, but that would be all the damage they would do. Chinnadurai retired the next three batters, as the Falcons held on to a six-run advantage. Messiah was not done yet, Wagner led the inning off with a single, followed by
Asia Harding putting a ball in play to runners on third and second. Wiley once again provided more runs with a single into right field to score two more, but smart base running advanced her all the way to third with Dyer at the plate. Then a couple of pitches later, Dyer would smash a home run into left field to extend the Falcons lead to 11-1. Following a single from
Haylie Fenstermaker, Schlabach picked up another RBI with a double into right center, putting the Golden Wolves in a 11-run hole.
Following a rare quiet fourth inning, the Falcons were three outs away from closing the door on the Golden Wolves in the fifth inning.
Kelli Durbin stepped into the circle hoping to advance the Falcons to the winner's bracket against Eastern University. Durbin wasted no time in doing so as she struck out two of the final three batters and forced a fly out to end the game for Messiah.
Stats:
Kandice Schlabach finished 3-3 on the day with two RBIs.
Hannah Dyer,
Allie Book, and
Rebekah Wiley each picked up two hits, with Dyer picking up four RBIs. Four other Falcons would snag hits in the win.
Maggie Chinnadurai pitched four innings, surrendering one run with three strikeouts.
Kelli Durbin pitched one inning, striking out two batters.
What's Up Next:
The Falcons will take on the Eagles of Eastern University Friday, May. 2nd for a chance to advance to the MAC Commonwealth championship.
