NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – On Friday afternoon, the fifteenth-ranked Messiah University baseball team used a five-run two out rally in the top of the ninth to defeat the Captains of Christopher Newport, 6-2. The game started as a pitcher duel with both teams pitchers dealing six shutout innings. The Captains took a lead in the bottom of the seventh, but the Falcons responded back with a run in the top of the eighth to tie the game at one. CNU then responded back with a run in the bottom of the eighth to take a 2-1 lead headed into the final inning of play. The Falcons then scored five runs in the top of the ninth, all with two outs, to defeat the Captains 6-2.
Carter Reid led the Falcons with two hits and two RBIs.
Luke Ott and
Cristian Reyna each tallied two hits and an RBI.
David Martinez hit in the game-winning run in the ninth on an RBI single.
Daniel Knight pitched six innings, allowing only one run and striking out one batter.
Trey Harper earned the win out the pen for the Falcons, allowing one run and striking out two batters.
Up next, the Falcons play a doubleheader at No. 22 CNU, on Saturday, Feb. 28 starting at 11:00 a.m.
No. 22 CNU 2, No. 15 Messiah 1
After two scoreless innings of play, the Falcons looked to break the scoreless tie in the top of the third.
Isaiah Parido singled with two outs, but the Captains got out of the inning with a strikeout.
After another scoreless inning from
Daniel Knight on the mound for the Falcons in the bottom of third, the Falcons looked to get on the board in the top of the fourth. With two outs,
Luke Ott and
Brayden Burkholder hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. After Ott stole third, the Captains got out of the inning with a ground out to keep the game scoreless.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Captains looked like they were going to take the lead on an RBI single, but
David Martinez threw out the CNU runner at the plate to keep the game tied.
After a scoreless fifth and sixth inning, the Captains got on the board with a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead headed into the top of the eighth.
In the top of the eighth, the Falcons looked answer the one-run inning from the Captains.
Cristian Reyna led off the inning with a double to right center and then advanced to third on a ground out from
Isaiah Parido.
Drew Hurst then tied the game at one with an RBI single to left center.
The Captains scored a run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single to give the Captains back the lead headed into the top of the ninth.
The Falcons looked for once last chance to comeback in the top of the ninth. After
Brayden Burkholder walked,
Brody Travagline pinch ran for Burkholder and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Nick Moyer. After a ground out,
Cristian Reyna hit an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at two. After Reyna stole third and
Isaiah Parido walked,
David Martinez hit an RBI single to left to give the Falcons a 3-2 lead. After a pitching change,
Drew Hurst walked to load the bases and then
Carter Reid hit a two-RBI single to right to push the Falcons lead to 5-2.
Luke Ott capped off the big inning for the Falcons with an RBI single to give the Falcons a 6-2 lead headed into the bottom of the ninth.
Trey Harper then closed the game out, working around two base runners to give the Falcons the 6-2 win.
Stats
Carter Reid led the Falcons with two hits and two RBIs.
Luke Ott and
Cristian Reyna each tallied two hits and an RBI.
David Martinez hit in the game-winning run in the ninth on an RBI single.
Daniel Knight pitched six innings, allowing only one run and striking out one batter.
Trey Harper earned the win out the pen for the Falcons, allowing one run and striking out two batters.
Next
The Falcons play a doubleheader at No. 22 CNU, on Saturday, Feb. 28 starting at 11:00 a.m.
