GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday afternoon, the Messiah University baseball team swept the Eagles of Eastern University to earn the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament.
In game one, the Eagles opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first. The Falcons answered back with two runs in the first and four in the second to take a 6-1 lead through two innings. The Falcons added a run in the fourth to extend their lead to 7-1. The Eagles did not go away without a fight, with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to cut the Falcons lead to 7-6 headed into the final inning. The Eagles then scored two in the seventh to take an 8-7 lead. The Falcons scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at eight headed into extra innings. After a scoreless eighth,
Matt Luchovick hit a walk off double to left to give the Falcons the 9-8 win.
Landon Mark and
Carter Reid each tallied three hits and two RBIs.
Isaiah Parido totaled two hits and an RBI.
David Martinez added two hits and a run scored.
In game two, the Eagles once again took the lead in the top of the first. The Falcons answered back with a run to tie the game at one through the first. After a scoreless second, the Falcons scored a run in the third and three runs in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. The Falcons added five more runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn the 10-1 win.
Isaiah Parido led the Falcons with two home runs and four RBIs.
Carter Reid totaled two hits and an RBI.
Nick Moyer added a three-run home run.
Landon Mark also hit a home run with two RBIs.
Up next, the Falcons host the Knights of Arcadia University on Tuesday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m.
Game One: Messiah 9, Eastern 8 – Final 9 innings
The Eagles opened the scoring in game one with a leadoff solo home run to take a 1-0 lead after the top of the first.
The Falcons then looked to answer quickly in the bottom of the first.
Isaiah Parido led off the inning with a walk. After a strikeout, Parido stole second, and
Drew Hurst hit a two-run home run to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead.
After a scoreless top of the second from
Christian Foltz on the mound, the Falcons looked to add to their lead in the bottom half. After a lineout,
David Martinez doubled down the left-field line to give the Falcons a runner in scoring position with one out. After a
Kyler Parks walk,
Isaiah Parido ripped an RBI double to left center to push the Falcons lead to 3-1. After a
Drew Hurst walk to load the bases,
Landon Mark hit a two-RBI single to center to push the Falcons lead four.
Carter Reid then hit an RBI single to center to push the Falcons lead to 6-1 headed into the third.
After a scoreless third inning, the Falcons looked to get back on the board in the bottom of the fourth.
Isaiah Parido led off the inning with a triple to center field.
Cristian Reyna then brought home Parido with a sacrifice fly to left to push the Falcons lead to 7-1 through four innings of play.
The Eagles looked to cut into the Falcons lead in the top of the fifth. The Eagles scored three runs to reduce the Falcons lead to 7-4 headed into the bottom of the fifth.
The Eagles continued to rally with two runs in the top of the sixth to cut the Falcons lead to 7-6.
The Eagles kept the momentum going in the top of the seventh with two runs to take an 8-7 lead headed into the final frame.
The Falcons looked to try and break the Eagles' momentum in the bottom of the seventh.
Landon Mark led off the inning with a triple to center field.
Carter Reid then hit an RBI single through the right side to tie the game at eight. After a fly out,
Carter Reid stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Eagles' catcher. The Eagles got out of the inning with a pop out and a ground out to keep the game tied at eight and force extra innings.
After
Owen Thornton threw two scoreless innings, the Falcons looked to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth.
Landon Mark led off the inning with a single up the middle. After
Carter Reid grounded into a fielder's choice and a fly out,
Matt Luchovick hit an RBI double to left to give the Falcons the 9-8 win.
Stats
Landon Mark and
Carter Reid each led the Falcons with three hits and two RBIs.
Isaiah Parido totaled two hits and an RBI. David Matinez added two hits.
Matt Luchovick hit the walk off RBI double in the ninth.
Game Two: Messiah 10, Eastern 1
The Eagles scored a run in the top of the first to take an early one lead.
The Falcons answered back in the bottom of the first with a leadoff no-doubt solo home run to tie the game at one.
After a scoreless second, the Falcons looked to take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the third. After a lineout,
Landon Mark crushed a solo home run to left center to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead through three innings.
After the third-straight scoreless inning from
Devin Aponte, the Falcons looked to extend their lead in the bottom of the fourth.
David Martinez led the innings off with a double to left field. After a fly out,
Brody Travagline reached on a walk. After the two runners advanced on a balk,
Isaiah Parido ripped his second no-doubt home run of the game to push the Falcons lead to 5-1.
After a scoreless fifth, the Falcons looked to add more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Micah Smith led off the inning with a walk and then stole second. After a strikeout,
Isaiah Parido was internally walked and then the two runners advanced on a balk.
Carter Reid then hit an RBI single to right to give the Falcons a five-run lead. After a
Drew Hurst walk,
Landon Mark hit a sacrifice fly to right to push the Falcons lead to six.
Nick Moyer then hit a three-run home run to left to give the Falcons a 10-1 lead.
Jason Long closed out the game to give the Falcons the 10-1 win.
Stats
Isaiah Parido led the Falcons with two home runs and four RBIs.
Carter Reid totaled two hits and an RBI.
Nick Moyer added a three-run home run.
Landon Mark also hit a home run with two RBIs.
Devin Aponte earned the win on the mound, pitching five innings, allowing one run on seven hits and four strikeouts.
Jason Long pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen with a strikeout.
Next
The Falcons host the Knights of Arcadia University on Tuesday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m.
