GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Friday afternoon, the Messiah University baseball team used four home runs to defeat the Spartans of York College, 15-5 in game one of the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal Series. The Falcons opened the game strong with five runs in the bottom of the first to take a 5-0 lead. After a scoreless second, the Falcons added a run in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to six. The Spartans looked to battle back and scored two runs in the top of the fifth to cut the Falcons lead to 6-2. The Falcons though scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth push their lead to 8-2. The Falcons then added more insurance runs with four runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 12-2 lead into the final inning. The Spartans scored three runs in the ninth, but the Falcons lead was too strong, and Messiah earned the 12-5 win.
Isaiah Parido and
Cristian Reyna led the Falcons with four hits and two RBIs each.
Landon Mark totaled two hits and four RBIs.
Brayden Kratz and
Nick Moyer each added two hits and two RBIs.
Christian Foltz earned the win with six innings pitched, allowing two runs on three hits and seven strikeouts.
Up next, the Falcons host the Spartans of York College in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal Series day two starting at 12:00 p.m. With a win, the Falcons advance to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Series and if the Spartans win, the two teams will play a game three at 3:30 p.m. for a trip to the conference championship series on the line.
Messiah 12, York 5
After a scoreless top of the first, the Falcons looked to start the game strong.
Isaiah Parido led off the game with a double and then
Cristian Reyna singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. After Reyna stole second,
Drew Hurst walked to load the bases.
Landon Mark then hit a moonshot to dead center to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead. After a pair of outs,
Matt Luchovick reached on a hit by pitch to keep the inning alive.
Brayden Kratz then hit an RBI double to left to push the Falcons lead to 5-0 through the first inning.
After two more scoreless frames from
Christian Foltz, the Falcons offense looked to add to their lead in the bottom of the third. After a fly out,
Nick Moyer reached on an infield single. After a pop out,
Brayden Kratz hit his second RBI double of the game to push their lead to 6-0.
After a scoreless fourth, the Spartans scored two runs in the top of the fifth to cut the Falcons lead to 6-2.
After a pair of scoreless frames, the Falcons looked to increase their lead in the bottom of the sixth. After a walk and
Carter Reid reaching on a fielder's choice,
Isaiah Parido ripped a no-doubt two-run home run to right center to give the Falcons an 8-2 lead through six.
After a scoreless seventh, the Falcons looked to add more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Isaiah Parido led off the inning with a single and then stole second.
Cristian Reyna then hit a two-run home run to extend the Falcons lead to 10-2. With one out,
Landon Mark singled and after a fly out,
Nick Moyer hit the second two-run home run of the inning to give the Falcons a 12-2 lead heading into the final inning.
The Spartans scored three runs in the top of the ninth but could not extend their rally and the Falcons earned the 12-5 win.
Stats
Isaiah Parido and
Cristian Reyna led the Falcons with four hits and two RBIs each.
Landon Mark totaled two hits and four RBIs.
Brayden Kratz and
Nick Moyer each added two hits and two RBIs.
Christian Foltz earned the win with six innings pitched, allowing two runs on three hits and seven strikeouts.
Devin Aponte earned the save with three innings pitched, allowing three runs with three strikeouts.
Next
The Falcons host the Spartans of York College in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal Series day two starting at 12:00 p.m. With a win, the Falcons advance to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Series and if the Spartans win, the two teams will play a game three at 3:30 p.m. for a trip to the conference championship series on the line.
