VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Messiah University Softball team was in action for Game Three of Day Two of the NCAA Regional Tournament against the Swarthmore College Garnet. The teams battled through five and a half scoreless innings before Allie Book hit a sacrifice fly that brought Fallon Feaser across home plate. That run would stand as the lone run scored as Messiah claimed the 1-0 victory to advance to the NCAA Regional Final on Saturday, May 16 at 1:30 p.m. against Virginia Wesleyan University.

How It Happened
Fallon Feaser started hot in the circle for Messiah with a pair of pop outs and a ground out for a three-batter inning. Brielle Rosario found her way on base with a walk, but the Falcons were unable to bring her around. In the top of the second inning, the Garnet loaded the bases with one out and looked to score with a sacrifice fly, but Brielle Rosario was able to able to make a clean play in center to keep the runner on third. The Garnet brought in an early pinch hitter, looking to capitalize on the bases loaded situation, but a fly out to Rosario in center left the Garnet scoreless after two innings.

Ali Wagner hit a one-out triple for the Falcons in the bottom of the second, but two infield popups kept her from putting the first run of the game on the board. A single for the Garnet in the third was muted by a pair of ground outs and a fly out to end the inning. Hannah Dyer found herself in scoring position but was unable to cross home. The Garnet looked to strike in the top of the fourth with two runners in scoring position but a ground out back to Fallon Feaser in the circle ended their chances. The Falcons were unable to piece together an offensive attack in the bottom of the inning and both teams were hitless in the fifth.

With the game winding down and both teams looking to extend their seasons, Swarthmore used a pair of singles to put two on base and a ground out put two Garnet runners in scoring position once again but a fly out to Brielle Rosario in center field kept the score notched at 0-0.

Fallon Feaser started the Falcons offense in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out single to left field. Looking for the sacrifice bunt to advance Feaser, Brielle Rosario was safe at first on a throwing error and Feaser was able to advance to third. Still with one out, Allie Book hit a sacrifice fly to right field, advancing Rosario to third and scoring Fallon to register the first run of the game. The Falcons were unable to score Rosario and held a 1-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning.

In the top of the seventh, the Garnet looked to rally with a one-out single followed by a fielder's choice. A single and walk loaded the bases for Swarthmore for the second time of the game but a ground out to Hannah Dyer at shortstop secured the 1-0 win for the Falcons to advance them to the final on Saturday.

Stats
Hannah Dyer, Fallon Feaser, and Ali Wagner each recorded a hit for the Falcons. Allie Book had the lone RBI for Messiah in the game. Fallon Feaser faced 33 batters, allowing eight hits with no runs scored.

Up Next
With the win, the Falcons advance to the NCAA Regional Final on Saturday, May 16 at 1:30 p.m. against Virginia Wesleyan University.