VIERA, Fla. – The Messiah Softball team ended their Florida trip today with a pair of wins over Nebraska Wesleyan, 10-7, and against Emerson College, 4-2.
In game one, it was a battle of the offenses, with Messiah taking a slugfest, 10-7.
In game two, the pitchers dominated for a majority of the game, with the Falcons using a two-run third inning and runs in the fifth and sixth to get a 4-2 victory.
Up next, the Falcons have their home and conference opener against Widener University on Saturday, Mar. 14, at 1:00 p.m.
Game One: Messiah – 10, Nebraska Wesleyan – 7
Brielle Rosario led off the game with a walk, moving to second after a sacrifice bunt.
Fallon Feaser singled to right field to score Rosario, giving Messiah a 1-0 lead. Nebraska Wesleyan quickly tied the game in the bottom of the first, scoring one run on two hits.
Lucy Murphy single to start the second, advancing to second on a passed ball.
McKenna Bunting then punched a one-out single to right field to score Murphy, restoring the Falcons lead.
Kelli Durbin singled to move Bunting to third. Durbin advanced to second on an error which was followed by a sacrifice fly from
Brielle Rosario that scored both runners, making it 4-1.
Fallon Feaser put a zero on the board in the circle in the bottom half of the inning, tallying one strikeout.
After two quick out to start the third,
Rebekah Wiley doubled to try and spark a rally.
Lucy Murphy slapped an RBI single to make it 5-1 and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.
Josi Tolentino was hit by a pitch and
McKenna Bunting singled to score both runs, making it 7-1, Messiah. Bunting advanced to second and scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-1. Feaser followed up with another strikeout and a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third.
After a quiet fourth inning,
Josi Tolentino led off the fifth with a single.
McKenna Bunting reached on a fielder's choice, and
Kelli Durbin singled.
Kylie Thompson came in to pinch run for Durbin and scored after
Brielle Rosario ripped a two-run double to make it 10-1. Nebraska Wesleyan started to get some momentum back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs on two hits to make it 10-4.
Nebraska Wesleyan scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth to continue closing in on the Falcons, making it 10-6. Nebraska Wesleyan scored a final run in the seventh, but Messiah held on to win, 10-7.
Stats
McKenna Bunting had two hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
Brielle Rosario had a double and four RBIs.
Lucy Murphy had three hits, one RBI, and two runs scored.
Rebekah Wiley added a double.
Fallon Feaser had one hit and RBI, and added four strikeouts in the circle.
Game Two: Messiah – 4, Emerson – 2
Kelli Durbin dominated early, allowing no hits through the first three innings for Messiah.
In the bottom of the third,
Ashley Bryant walked with one out, and then
Brielle Rosario reached on a fielder's choice, with Bryant reaching second on an error.
Ava Fair then singled up the middle for Messiah's first hit of the game, loading the bases.
Fallon Feaser followed with an RBI single to give Messiah a 1-0 lead, with the bases still juiced.
Allie Book then got an RBI on a fielder's choice, giving Messiah a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Emerson used two hits to get a run on the board in the top of the fifth.
Brielle Rosario got on base with a leadoff single in the bottom half of the inning, followed by a single from
Ava Fair to give Messiah two baserunners.
Fallon Feaser then singled to load the bases.
Allie Book then got her second RBI of the game on a fielder's choice to restore the Falcons two-run lead.
Emerson then got back within one in the top of the sixth, scoring one run on one hit to make it 3-2, Messiah.
Josi Tolentino lead of the bottom of the sixth with a single. Next,
Kelli Durbin reached on a fielder's choice, with Tolentino being retired at second.
Ashley Bryant and
Brielle Rosario then used back-to-back single to load the bases with one out.
Ava Fair then knocked an RBI single to make it 4-2, Messiah.
Kelli Durbin then used a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to secure the win.
Stats
Ava Fair had three hits and one RBI.
Fallon Feaser added two hits and an RBI.
Allie Book had two RBIs.
Brielle Rosario had two hits and two runs scored.
Kelli Durbin got her third win of the season, with three strikeouts.
Up Next
The Falcons have their home and conference opener against Widener University on Saturday, Mar. 14, at 1:00 p.m.
