Grantham, Pa. – The Messiah Softball team was in action today for two games, falling to York College in a game to advance to the MAC Championship game on Saturday. The Falcons then got the bats rolling, taking down Eastern 9-1 in an elimination game to advance to the final day of the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. In game one,
Josi Tolentino,
Ava Fair, and
Lucy Murphy all tallied hits. In game two,
Allie Book had three hits and three RBIs.
Brielle Rosario added three hits, while
Ashley Bryant picked up two hits with one RBI.
Up next, the Falcons are back in action on championship Saturday, May 2 against York College at 1:30 p.m. If the Falcons win, then a final game will be played for the title at 3:30 p.m.
Game One: Messiah – 1, York – 6
The Spartans scored one run on one hit in the top of the first to take an early lead.
Brielle Rosario led off the bottom half with a walk for the Falcons after a 15-pitch marathon at bat. Rosario then stole second and
Lucy Murphy reached on a bunt single to third that advanced Rosario to third. However, Murphy was thrown out trying to advance to second.
Fallon Feaser got an RBI to tie the game with a sacrifice fly and
Allie Book drew a walk, but the Falcons couldn't take the lead.
York retook the lead in the top of the second, scoring one run on one hit.
Josi Tolentino and
Ava Fair both singled for the Falcons in the second, but Messiah failed to get the tying run home.
Both pitchers began to find their rhythms, as neither team were able to get a hit over the next two innings.
In the top of the fifth, the Spartans got moving again on offense, scoring three runs on three hits to take a 5-1 lead.
The Spartans added another run in the sixth ad shut down the Falcons offense over the final two frames to win 6-1, advancing to the final day of the MAC Commonwealth Tournament.
Stats
Josi Tolentino,
Ava Fair, and
Lucy Murphy all tallied hits.
Game Two: Messiah – 9, Eastern – 1 (6 inn.)
After a scoreless first in the circle for
Kelli Durbin,
Brielle Rosario singled to lead off the inning for the Falcons and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Lucy Murphy.
Fallon Feaser then ripped an RBI-double to deep center field to give the Falcons a lead.
Allie Book singled to the shortstop and advanced to second as
Fallon Feaser went to third.
Rebekah Wiley sent a flyball to right field that advanced both runners, scoring Feaser on the sacrifice fly.
Josi Tolentino walked, and
Ashley Bryant delivered an RBI-single to make it 3-0 Messiah, ending the scoring for the inning.
Kelli Durbin worked out of some trouble on the base paths in the second inning to keep the Eagles off the board.
Ava Fair walked to lead off the bottom half of the inning but got caught stealing as the Falcons went down in order.
Both pitchers began to find a groove, pitching scoreless third and fourth innings, with a single from
Ashley Bryant being the only piece of offense for the Falcons.
The Eagles got on the board in the fifth, scoring one run on one hit. In the bottom of the fifth,
Brielle Rosario led off with a single and stole second base.
Lucy Murphy reached base on an infield hit that advanced Rosario. Murphy then stole second and Rosario came home to score on the throw to second.
Allie Book scored Murphy on an RBI-single, and
Rebekah Wiley doubled to left center to score Book, making it 6-1.
Josi Tolentino then got her own RBI-double to score Wiley to further extend the Falcons lead.
After another 1-2-3 inning for
Kelli Durbin,
Brielle Rosario single,
Lucy Murphy walked, and
Fallon Feaser walked to load the bases.
Allie Book then sent a two-RBI single up the middle to score two runs, giving Messiah a 9-1 win due to the run rule.
Stats
Allie Book had three hits and three RBIs.
Brielle Rosario added three hits, while
Ashley Bryant picked up two hits with one RBI.
Rebekah Wiley added one hit with two RBIs.
Kelli Durbin pitched six innings in the circle, allowing just one run, moving to 15-6 on the season.
Up Next
The Falcons are back in action on championship Saturday, May 2 against York College at 1:30 p.m. If the Falcons win, then a final game will be played for the title at 3:30 p.m.
