WINCHESTER, Va. – The Messiah University baseball team opened the 2026 Regional Tournament with an 8-6 loss against Transylvania University on Friday, May 15. The Falcons took a 3-0 lead with a leadoff single from
Isaiah Parido before a pair of groundouts scored him in the first. In the top of the second,
Nick Moyer scored on a single before
Brayden Kratz crossed the plate for the 3-0 lead. A pair of strong innings for the Pioneers in the fourth and fifth gave Transylvania an 8-3 lead. After a one out walk to
Brayden Kratz, a wild pitch advanced him to scoring position. A single from Parido scored Kratz to bring the score to 8-4. The Falcons added a pair in the top of the ninth with solo home runs from
Isaiah Parido and
Drew Hurst but it was not enough as the Pioneers took the 8-6 win.
Isaiah Parido led the Falcons with three hits including a solo home run and two RBIs.
Drew Hurst and
David Martinez each added a pair of hits with Hurst tallying a pair of RBIs and a home run and Martinez tallying an RBI on two singles.
With the loss, the Falcons will play in Game Three at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 15 against Farmingdale St. If the Falcons defeat the Rams, they will take on the Loser of Game Four at approximately 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night.
Transylvania 8, Messiah 6
Isaiah Parido opened the game with a single through the right side before stealing second. A pair of groundouts for the Falcons scored Parido to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead after the top of the first. After an opening single for the Pioneers, three straight outs closed with a pickoff at second from Cristian Foltz to
Carter Reid to
Cristian Reyna to keep the 1-0 lead.
The Falcons added a pair of runs in the second when a single from
David Martinez scored
Nick Moyer before
Brayden Kratz scored to take a 3-0 lead. The teams traded three out innings before a 1-0 single and walk gave the Pioneers two on with two out in the bottom of the third. A strikeout for
Christian Foltz held the 3-0 lead.
Despite a pair of walks in the top of the fourth, the Falcons were unable to put a run across the place. In the bottom of the fourth, the Pioneers used an inning opening double, four walks, and a hit by pitch to take a 4-3 lead after four innings.
Drew Hurst opened the fifth with a single but three quick outs brought Transylvania back to the plate. The Pioneers opened the inning with a single before the Pioneers put another four runners across the plate to take an 8-3 lead.
With one out in the sixth,
Brayden Kratz walked and advanced to into scoring position on a wild pitch.
David Martinez singled to third base to give the Falcons two on with one out. A single from
Isaiah Parido scored Kratz before a double play ended the inning with Messiah trailing 8-4.
Devin Aponte made quick work of the bottom of the sixth with a lineout and walk to open the inning before a double play moved the game to the seventh.
The Falcons were held hitless in the seventh and Transylvania notched a single but was unable to produce a run. After a scoreless eighth, the game moved to the top of the ninth with Transylvania holding the 8-4 lead.
After an out to start the ninth,
Isaiah Parido notched a solo home run to right center to bring the score to 8-5. After a groundout,
Drew Hurst hit a 1-0 solo home run to right center to cut the deficit to two.
Landon Mark reached on a single before
Brayden Burkholder pinch hit for the Falcons. Mark stole second to put himself in scoring position but a called third strike ended the game 8-6 in favor of Transylvania.
Stats
Isaiah Parido led the Falcons with three hits including a solo home run and two RBIs.
Drew Hurst and
David Martinez each added a pair of hits with Hurst tallying a pair of RBIs and a home run and Martinez tallying an RBI on two singles.
Up Next
With the loss, the Falcons will play in Game Three at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 15 against Farmingdale St. If the Falcons defeat the Rams, they will take on the Loser of Game Four at approximately 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night.
