No. 9 Messiah 4, No. Lebanon Valley 3 – Game 1

LVC Lineup
1. Bost cf, 2. Windsor dp, 3. Toth c, 4. Gross lf, 5. Whelski 2b, 6. Brown rf, 7. Christensen 1b, 8. Robinson 3b, 9. McClain ss, Abbot p

Messiah Lineup
1. Fix lf, 2. Esper 3b, 3. Anders ss, 4. Cressman 1b, 5. Tebbs c, 6. Bingaman cf, 7. Boreman dp, 8. Quatrale 2b, 9. Denny rf, Yannetti p

How It Happened
One swing kept No. 23 Lebanon Valley from knocking off No. 9 Messiah on Thursday afternoon. The defending national runners-up escaped game one of a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader with a slim 4-3 victory.   

The Flying Dutchmen (13-4, 4-1 MAC Commonwealth) led 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning when Erin Cressman connected with a three-run homer to center field after the Falcons (17-3, 5-0 MAC Commonwealth) used back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second.

LVC cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the seventh when Cheyanne Brown laid down a bunt single, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Haley Christensen's RBI groundout to second base. That's as close as the Dutchmen would get, however, as Messiah held on thanks to a game-ending lineout.

The visitors scored the game's first run in the top of the second when Sydney Boreman's RBI groundout to Haley Christensen at first base plated Cressman from third.

The Dutchmen drew even in the bottom of the third when a Messiah error allowed Christensen to come across after she led off the stanza with a double to left-center field. LVC took its first lead of the day in the bottom of the fourth when Elaine Gross singled up the middle to drive in Rayanne Hawk following the speedster's entry to pinch run for Savannah Toth after the catcher opened the frame with a double.

Inside the Circle
- Maddie Abbot suffered her first loss of the season for LVC despite turning in another solid performance. She went the distance and allowed four runs on six hits and a walk to go along with four strikeouts.
- Messiah's Madelyn Yannetti improved to 9-0 on the year after allowing just two earned runs on five hits in seven innings of work.

At the Plate
- Savannah Toth and Haley Christensen's doubles accounted for LVC's pair of extra-base hits.
- Christensen and Elaine Gross drove in one run each for the Dutchmen.
- Messiah's Erin Cressman was the only player to record a multi-hit game with two.
- Cressman's three-run home run was the only extra-base hit of the game for the Falcons.

Around the Diamond
- Cheyanne Brown stole the only base of the contest.
- Each team committed one error, with Messiah's leading to an unearned run.
- Elaine Gross had six putouts in left field, while Alissa Robinson had four assists at third base.
- The loss ended LVC's eight-game win streak.
 

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No. 9 Messiah 8, No. 23 Lebanon Valley 2 – Game 2

LVC Lineup
1. Bost cf, 2. Brown dp, 3. Toth c, 4. Gross lf, 5. Windsor p, 6. Whelski 2b, 7. Christensen 1b, 8. Robinson 3b, 9. McClain ss, Hawk rf

Messiah Lineup
1. Fix p, 2. Esper 3b, 3. Jones ss, 4. Cressman 1b, 5. Tebbs c, 6. Bingaman cf, 7. Boreman dp, 8. Quatrale 2b, 9. Denny rf, Carroll lf

How It Happened
No. 23 Lebanon Valley struggled to get things going at the plate in an 8-2 loss in the second game of a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader against No. 9 Messiah on Thursday afternoon.

The Flying Dutchmen (13-5, 4-2 MAC Commonwealth) managed just four hits, while the visitors (18-3, 6-0 MAC Commonwealth) had seven extra-base knocks, including three home runs.

After a scoreless opening frame, the Falcons took advantage of an LVC error and added a pair of hits to plate two runs in the top of the second.

Lebanon Valley showed signs of life in the bottom of the third when Annie McClain hit her second home run of the spring; a solo shot to left-center field that cut the Messiah advantage to 2-1.

The Falcons responded with three runs in the top of the next stanza and created some breathing room with two more tallies in the top of the fifth. Messiah added an insurance run in the seventh before the Dutchmen closed out the scoring when Robin Feaster launched a pinch-hit double to the fence in right-center field, scoring Elaine Gross in the process.

Inside the Circle
- Lexi Windsor got the start for LVC and gave up three earned runs on seven hits in four innings of work for LVC.
- Maddie Abbot made a relief appearance, surrendering three runs on five hits and a walk. She also struck out two batters in three innings of work.
- Carrie Fix earned the complete-game victory for Messiah, giving up just two runs on four hits and a walk.

At the Plate
- Annie McClain had a nice game for LVC, going 2-2 with a solo home run.
- Robin Feaster saw one pitch on Thursday and roped a double into left-center field in the seventh inning.
- Elaine Gross accounted for the only other Dutchmen hit of the game.
- McKenzie Tebbs went 3-4 with three runs scored for Messiah.
- Amber Bingaman and Emily Quatrale each drove in a pair of runs for the Falcons.

Around the Diamond
- Cheyanne Brown swiped Lebanon Valley's only bag of the game.
- Amanda Jones and Nicole Kreimer had one stolen base apiece for Messiah.
- Each team committed one error.
- Alissa Robinson had four assists at third base for the Dutchmen, as did shortstop Annie McClain.

Who's Next?
The Dutchmen host Stevenson for a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.