Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. - Messiah College belted out four home runs in a late-game offensive explosion as they overpowered Lebanon Valley College, 14-1, in Commonwealth Conference baseball action Monday at McGill Field.

The Dutchmen (8-13, 0-3 CC) got their lone run on a home run by Chris Schank in the fifth. The game was a make-up of last Friday's rained out date; Monday's originally-scheduled contest with Delaware Valley was cancelled to make room for the game.

The Falcons (19-7, 5-1 CC) got two longballs from catcher Ben Kirk. His first, in the sixth, was a mammoth shot to left center that cleared the outfield promenade and bounced off the access road about 420 feet from home.

Pitcher Matt Kline started strong, throwing four innings of no-hit ball until the Falcons put five across in the fifth. After giving up a lead-off double, Messiah scored first on Kyle Stuckey's single to right, and Sheldon Witmer's double plated Stuckey. The biggest play of the inning came with the bases loaded and two out as Jon-Mike Richards doubled to the wall in right center to clear the bases for three of his five RBI on the day.

Schank led off the fifth with a line drive homer to left, and Kirk belted his first in the bottom half of the inning to put Messiah up 6-1. Witmer went yard to lead off the seventh, roping a shot just inside the right-field foul pole.

The Falcons kept hitting in the eighth, putting seven runs on the board in the inning. Kirk went long for the second time with a three-run bomb, and Richards added a two-run knock later in the inning to finish off his outstanding day.

Kline went six innings to take the loss, allowing six hits and seven runs, all earned. Andrew Pipkin allowed five runs in an inning and a third, and Josh Muscalus was touched for two runs in an inning and two-thirds.

Travis Thome earned the win for Messiah, pitching seven strong innings of three-hit ball.

LVC will host Millersville University Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.