READING, Pa. – On Friday afternoon, the Messiah University baseball team used four-run seventh inning to defeat the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University, 9-4. The Golden Wolves opened the game strong with a run in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. The Falcons responded with a run in the third and two runs in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. The Golden Wolves tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a run, but the Falcons scored four runs in the top of the sixth, led by a three-run home run from
Cristian Reyna to take a 7-3 lead. The Golden Wolves responded with a run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Falcons lead to three headed into the eighth. After a scoreless eighth, the Falcons scored two runs in the top of the ninth to extend their lead to five headed into the final frame. The Golden Wolves added a run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Falcons limited the damage to one to earn the 9-5 win.
Matt Luchovick led the Falcons with three hits and three RBIs.
Cristian Reyna totaled two home runs and four RBIs.
Carter Reid added a hit and two RBIs.
Up next, the Falcons host the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University on Sunday, April 26 for a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.
Messiah 9, Alvernia 5
The Golden Wolves started the game strong with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI double to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Golden Wolves added another run in the bottom of the second on a solo home run to take a 2-0 lead through two innings.
The Falcons looked to answer in the top of the third and
Matt Luchovick led off the third with a solo home run to cut the Golden Wolves lead to one.
The Falcons looked to keep the momentum going at the plate in the top of the fourth. After a fly out,
Drew Hurst walked. After a strikeout, Hurst stole second and then
Carter Reid hit an RBI double to tie the game at two. After Reid advanced to third on an error and
Nick Moyer reached on a walk,
Matt Luchovick hit an RBI double down the left-field line to give the Falcons a 3-2 lead.
After a scoreless fifth, the Golden Wolves scored a run in the bottom of the fifth off a Falcons' error to tie the game at three headed into the seventh.
The Falcons then looked to take back the lead in the top of the seventh. After a pop out to lead off the inning,
Brody Travagline and
Isaiah Parido hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third with one out.
Cristian Reyna then hit a three-run home run to give the Falcons a 6-3 lead. The Falcons kept the threat alive in the inning with a walk from
Drew Hurst and a single from
Landon Mark to again put runners on the corners. After Mark stole second,
Carter Reid hit a sacrifice fly to center field to push the Falcons lead to 7-3.
The Golden Wolves chipped away at the Falcons lead with a run on an RBI ground out in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Falcons lead to 7-4 headed into the eighth.
After a scoreless eighth,
Cristian Reyna hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth to extend the Falcons lead to four. The Falcons continued to look for more insurance runs with a walk by
Carter Reid and
Nick Moyer to put runners on first and second.
Matt Luchovick then hit an RBI single to left to push the Falcons lead to 9-4 headed into the final frame.
The Golden Wolves scored a run in the bottom of the ninth, but
Devin Aponte struck out the final batter of the game to give the Falcons the 9-5 win.
Stats
Matt Luchovick led the Falcons with three hits and three RBIs.
Cristian Reyna totaled two home runs and four RBIs.
Carter Reid added a hit and two RBIs.
Daniel Knight started for the Falcons on the mound, pitching five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and a strikeout.
Devin Aponte earned the win with four innings out of the bullpen, allowing two runs on three hits and three strikeouts.
Next
The Falcons host the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University on Sunday, April 26 for a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.
