VIERA, Fla. – The Messiah Softball team was in action for two more games today, dropping a close contest to Muskingum University, 3-2, before getting their first win of their Florida trip over Wheaton College (Ill.), 5-4.
In game one, the Falcons trailed early before getting runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take the lead. Muskingum responded well, tying the game in the fifth, before scoring the winning run in the seventh inning. In game two, used a four-run first inning to take an early lead. Wheaton responded with a four-run second inning to tie it, before the Falcons scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Up next, the Falcons are in their final day of action in Florida, beginning against Nebraska Wesleyan University at 2:30 p.m.
Game One: Messiah – 2, Muskingum – 3
Fallon Feaser singled in the top of the first, but Messiah failed to score. Muskingum then took the lead in the bottom half of the inning.
After two scoreless innings,
Ava Fair got on base with a leadoff single in the top of the fourth. Fair then stole second base, and
Allie Book delivered with an RBI single into left field to tie the game, 1-1.
In the top of the fifth,
McKenna Bunting singled with one out, and
Josi Tolentino walked to give the Falcons two runners on base. The lineup flipped over with two outs, and
Brielle Rosario sent a double to deep center field, scoring Bunting to give Messiah a 2-1 lead. Muskingum then tied the game back up in the bottom half of the inning.
The Falcons failed to get a hit in the final two innings, and Muskingum scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to win 3-2.
Stats
Brielle Rosario had a double and an RBI.
Allie Book singled and added an RBI.
Ava Fair added a hit and a stolen base.
Game 2: Messiah – 5, Wheaton (Ill.) – 4
Brielle Rosario doubled to lead off the bottom of the first, before advancing to third on a wild pitch.
Ava Fair then walked and advanced on a throwing error which also allowed Rosario to score, giving Messiah an early lead. Next,
Fallon Feaser singled to move Fair over to third. Feaser then stole second, and Fair came home to score to double the Falcons lead.
Allie Book kept up the pressure, singling to left center, but Feaser was thrown out at the plate. Next up was
Rebekah Wiley, who also singled, scoring Book. Wiley then stole second to move into scoring position.
Lucy Murphy walked to give the Falcons two runners on base, and
Josi Tolentino followed up with an RBI single to make it 4-0, Messiah.
Wheaton responded with a four-run top of the second on three hits to tie the game.
The pitchers then began to settle in, with
Kelli Durbin not allowing a hit for the next three four frames.
Lucy Murphy singled for Messiah in the third, and
Ava Fair singled and stole a base in the fifth, but Messiah couldn't take the lead.
After a leadoff single for Wheaton in the top of the seventh,
Kelli Durbin pitched a scoreless inning to give the Falcons the chance to walk it off.
Ashley Bryant singled to start the inning,
Brielle Rosario reached on an error, and
Ava Fair walked to load the bases with no outs. Bryant then scored the winning run on a wild pitch, giving Messiah a 5-4 victory.
Stats
Ava Fair had one hit, three walks, one stolen base, and one run scored.
Rebekah Wiley had one hit, one RBI, one run scored, and one stolen base.
Lucy Murphy added two hits and a walk for the Falcons.
Ashley Bryant picked up one hit and scored the winning run.
Brielle Rosario doubled and scored a run.
Allie Book,
Fallon Feaser, and
Josi Tolentino all picked up hits for Messiah.
Kelli Durbin got the win in the circle for her second win of the season.
Up Next
The Falcons are in their final day of action in Florida, beginning against Nebraska Wesleyan University at 2:30 p.m.
