GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Friday afternoon, the Messiah University baseball team defeated the Pride of Widener University, 9-3 in game one of the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal series. The Pride got off to a strong start, scoring two runs in the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead. The Falcons answered back with two runs in the third and the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. The Falcons added a run in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 5-2. After a Pride run in the seventh,
Isaiah Parido hit a three-run home run to extend the Falcons lead to 8-3. The Falcons added another run in the eighth to earn the 9-3 win.
Zachary Harris earned the win, pitching five strong innings out of pen, allowing one unearned run, on six hits, a walk, and seven strikeouts.
Dustin Isanogle led the Falcons with three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI.
Luke Ott added two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Isaiah Parido hit a three-run home run and scored two runs.
Jarrett Gordon added a hit and two RBIs.
Up next, the Falcons take on the Pride of Widener University in game two on Saturday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. If the Pride win game two, the two teams will matchup in game three following game two tomorrow.
Messiah 9, Widener 3
The Pride started the game strong with an RBI single in the first and second inning to take a 2-0 lead through two innings.
The Falcons looked to get on the board in the bottom of the third inning. After a ground out,
Nick Moyer reached first on a walk.
Dustin Isanogle then ripped a double to left field but Moyer was thrown out at home. After an
Isaiah Parido walk,
Jarrett Gordon hit a two-RBI double to left to tie the game at two.
The Falcons bats stayed hot in the bottom of the fourth.
Evan Wagaman led off the inning with a double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Luke Ott then drove Wagaman home with an RBI single to give the Falcons the 3-2 lead. After Ott stole second,
David Martinez hit a single to put runners on first and third with one out.
Nick Moyer then hit a sacrifice fly to push the Falcons lead to 4-2 through four.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Falcons looked to add more to their lead in the bottom of the sixth.
Drew Hurst led off the inning with a walk and then
Evan Wagaman reached on a hit by pitch to give the Falcons runners on first and second with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt from
Dylan Beard,
Luke Ott hit an RBI ground out to extend the Falcons lead to 5-2.
The Pride reduce the Falcons lead back to two with an RBI fielder's choice in the top of seventh.
The Falcons though looked to add more runs after the Pride cut into their lead.
Nick Moyer led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and then
Dustin Isanogle hit a bunt single and then advanced to second to give the Falcons runners on second and third with no outs. After a Pride pitching change,
Isaiah Parido drilled a three-run home run to center field to push the Falcons lead to 8-3.
The Falcons added a run on a
Dustin Isanogle RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to give the Falcons the 9-3 lead.
Zachary Harris closed the game out with his fifth inning of work in the top of the ninth to give the Falcons the 9-2 win.
Stats
Zachary Harris earned the win, pitching five strong innings out of pen, allowing one unearned run, on six hits, a walk, and seven strikeouts.
Dustin Isanogle led the Falcons with three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI.
Luke Ott added two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Isaiah Parido hit a three-run home run and scored two runs.
Jarrett Gordon added a hit and two RBIs.
Next
The Falcons take on the Pride of Widener University in game two on Saturday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. If the Pride win game two, the two teams will matchup in game three following game two tomorrow.
