VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Messiah University Softball team was in action for their first NCAA Regional Final since the 2016 season on Saturday against No. 3 Virginia Wesleyan University. The Falcons started hot with two runs in the top of the fourth but a six run second inning for the Marlins followed by a four run third was too much for the Falcons to overcome as they ended their season with a 12-4 loss in the NCAA Regional Final. Allie Book led the Falcons with two hits including a double and an RBI. Kandice Schlabach and Ali Wagner each added a hit and an RBI.

With the loss, the Falcons conclude their season with a record of 35-13. Fallon Feaser, Allie Book, and Ali Wagner were named to the Regional All-Tournament Team for their performances this weekend.

How It Happened
After Hannah Dyer and Fallon Feaser were walked to begin the game, a wild pitch advanced the pair into scoring position. After a hit by pitch for Brielle Rosario loaded the bases, the Marlins made an early pitching change. Kandice Schlabach put the Falcons on the board with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Dyer. In the next at bat, Allie Book singled to center field and advanced to second on a throwing error. Rosario advanced and Feaser scored on the throwing error, giving Messiah an early 2-0 lead. After a walk and ground out to start the bottom of the first inning, a line drive back to the circle was caught by Maggie Chinnadurai who threw out the runner on first for a double play to end the inning.

After a quick top of the inning for the Falcons, the Marlins put a baserunner on with a single before a two-run homerun leveled the score at 2-2. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases before the Marlins scored four with a pair of fielder's choice and singles to take a 6-2 lead before a double play with a fly ball to Ali Wagner led to a thrown-out runner at home to end the second inning.

Brielle Rosario hit a single in the third inning before Allie Book doubled into left center to score Rosario to cut the deficit to three. The Falcons were unable to build momentum and ended the inning down 6-3. The Marlins used four hits and an error by the Falcons to put four runs across the board in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 10-3.

The Falcons put two runners on base with Rebekah Wiley and Sierra Emery each drawing walks, but the bats were quiet and the Falcons remained notched at three runs. A one-out single was all the Marlins could find in the bottom of the fourth before the Falcons returned to the plate in the top of the fifth inning.

Messiah looked to get their offense going when Brielle Rosario and Kandice Schlabach each reached base to start the inning. Kelli Durbin laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both Rosario and Schlabach into scoring position. Ali Wagner stepped up to the plate and delivered with an RBI single to right field before being caught stealing on a phenomenal throw by the Marlins' catcher. The game came to a close in the bottom of the fifth when Virginia Wesleyan scored on a sacrifice fly and sent a second runner home on a Falcons' error.

Stats
Allie Book led the Falcons with two hits including a double and an RBI. Kandice Schlabach and Ali Wagner each added a hit and an RBI.