READING, Pa. – The Messiah Baseball team split a conference doubleheader with the Lions at Albright College on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons trailed the Lions 3-0 after three innings in game one before a sacrifice fly from
Carter Reid scored
Landon Mark in the fourth to bring the score to 3-1. After three scoreless innings, the Lions took game one 3-1. In game two, Messiah trailed 4-1 after the first before cutting the deficit to 5-3 after three. The Falcons tied the score at five in the fourth with a fielder's choice from
Isaiah Parido and a single from
Cristian Reyna. Messiah took the win in game two after tallying four unanswered runs in the sixth with a two RBI single for
Drew Hurst, a sacrifice fly for Mark, and a single for Reid.
The Falcons return to action on Tuesday, April 14, when they host the Lancaster Bible College Chargers at 3:30 p.m. on Houck Field.
Game One: Messiah 1, Albright 3
The bats were quiet in the first for both teams, with
Drew Hurst hitting a two-out single before the Lions responded with a two-out single of their own. After a scoreless top of the second for Messiah, the Lions were able to score one on a double to take the early 1-0 lead. Albright extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third after a pair of hits and pair of errors from the Falcons.
Landon Mark hit a double in the top of the fourth before advancing to third after a single from
Nick Moyer. A sacrifice fly from
Carter Reid put the Falcons on the board as Mark scored. Moyer advanced to third on a wild pitch, but the Falcons were unable to plate another run.
Christian Foltz opened the bottom of the fourth with a pair of three pitch strikeouts before a fly out ended the inning. Both teams found themselves 0-for-3 in the fifth inning.
In the top of the sixth,
Landon Mark hit a single before advancing to scoring position on a balk. Mark was able to advance to third but was stranded on base as the Lions maintained their 3-1 lead.
After a walk and sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the sixth placed a runner in scoring position for Albright,
Christian Foltz collected a pair of strikeouts to retire the side. A 1-2-3 top of the seventh gave the Lions the 3-1 victory in game one.
Stats
Landon Mark led the Falcons with a pair of hits, including a double.
Carter Reid tallied the lone RBI for Messiah.
Christian Foltz tallied 106 pitches, collecting nine strikeouts while issuing two walks.
Game Two: Messiah 9, Albright 5
Messiah was first to strike in game two, with
Isaiah Parido starting the game with a lead-off single up the middle. Parido found himself on second after a fly out before scoring on a single to right field from
Landon Mark.
Albright was quick to answer, scoring four runs on one hit and a Falcons' error in the bottom of the first.
Nick Moyer opened the second inning with a double to center field but three quick outs from the Lions maintained the 4-1 lead.
The Lions were unable to extend their lead in the bottom of the second as
Nick Emig successfully drew three groundouts from the Albright batters.
Isaiah Parido opened the top of the third with a home run to right center to bring the score to 4-2 in favor of Albright.
Drew Hurst found his way on base after being hit by a pitch and a double to left center from
Landon Mark brought Hurst across the plate to cut the deficit to one.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Lions took back one for a 5-3 lead before
Matt Luchovick caught a runner looking to steal second to end the inning.
With one out in the fourth,
David Martinez was walked before a single from
Kyler Parks to right field advanced Martinez to third. Martinez then scored on a fielder's choice that put
Isaiah Parido on first with two outs. Parido stole second before stealing third and ultimately scoring on a single to center field from
Cristian Reyna. Reyna stole second before the Lions secured the third out as the Falcons tied the game 5-5.
Despite a double and walk in the bottom of the fourth, Albright was unable to regain their lead.
After a scoreless fifth, the Falcons' offense came alive in the top of the sixth.
David Martinez opened the inning with a single up the middle before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Kyler Parks.
Isaiah Parido was walked before
Cristian Reyna was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A single to center field for
Drew Hurst scored Martinez and Parido as Reyna and Hurst both moved into scoring positions as Messiah took a 7-5 lead. A sacrifice fly from
Landon Mark scored Reyna before a single from
Carter Reid played Hurst to extend the lead to 9-5. Reid stole second before
Nick Moyer was walked and
Matt Luchovick was hit by a pitch for the second bases loaded opportunity of the inning for the Falcons. The Lions drew the fly out to end the offensive surge from Messiah as the Falcons took the 9-5 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
The Lions had two on base in the sixth after being hit by pitches, but a pair of fly outs ended the chance to add runs.
Kyler Parks notched a single to open the seventh, but the bats went quiet as the Lions retired the side. Three quick outs for
Jason Long in the bottom of the seven maintained the 9-5 lead.
The Falcons were unable to pick up a hit in the top of the eighth and despite placing two on base in the bottom of the eighth, the Lions were unable to beat the Messiah defense and continued to trail 9-5.
After a 1-2-3 top of the ninth,
Owen Thornton retired the Lions 1-2-3 with a line out and double play to secure the 9-5 win in game two.
Stats
Landon Mark led the Falcons with two hits and three RBIs while
Isaiah Parido and
Kyler Parks each adding a pair of hits and Parido adding a pair of RBIs and a home run. Parido also added a pair of stolen bases.
Jason Long earned the win on the mound for the Falcons, pitching three innings with a strikeout, one hit, and no runs scored.
Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Tuesday, April 14, when they host the Lancaster Bible College Chargers at 3:30 p.m. on Houck Field.
