Host Royals Strike Early And Often In Pair Of Wins Over Falcons
Freshman Corinn Eby was solid in a relief pitching effort Tuesday.

Harrisonburg, VA — Just four days after pummeling visiting Mary Baldwin College with a spectacular offensive display, the Messiah College softball team found the battery much more difficult Tuesday at Eastern Mennonite University, dropping 2-7 and 1-4 decisions to the host Royals.

Messiah (3-6) generated just two extra base hits on the day while allowing eight to the hosts, falling behind early in both contests en route to the defeats.

“Eastern Mennonite jumped all over us early today and we just couldn’t recover,” said Amy Weaver, Messiah head coach. “The atmosphere in the dugout was low intensity from the very beginning, and we just didn’t get it done.”

The Royals began the day by retiring three of the first four Messiah batters, setting up the most impressive stretch of offense in either contest: Eastern Mennonite (9-2) scored six runs in the first two innings, sending sophomore and starting pitcher Megan Rice (2-2) to an early exit. Rice, who entered the game with a team-best 24 strikeouts in just 20 innings of work, ended the day giving up six earned runs off of seven hits with no K’s.

Freshman Corrin Eby came on to pitch a solid remainder of the game — four and one-third innings pitched, one earned run off of seven hits — but the damage had been done. Only a solo homerun from sophomore Nicole Adams in the second inning and an RBI single in the sixth would push runs across for the Falcons.

Adams finished 2-3 at the plate with two RBI, generating her fourth home run in just eight games, a team-best. Freshman Rebekkah Funk also finished 2-3 with a double and a run scored, while senior Lana Trotter provided the team’s only other hit of the game, a single coming in the first inning.

“They jumped on Megan early, and we just couldn’t recover,” Weaver said. “Nicole had another nice outing at the plate, but we couldn’t provide much support.”

Such was again the case in the day’s second game, as six Messiah hits were scattered to produce one run. Freshman Jessica Climenhaga (0-2) got the start in the pitching circle, giving up just five hits while striking out five. Unfortunately for the Falcons, three errors led to a pair of unearned runs for EMU, putting Weaver’s team behind the proverbial eight ball again.

EMU spaced one-score innings in the first, third, fifth and sixth stanzas, while Messiah’s chances were numerous. Perhaps the squad’s best opportunity at making a serious move came in the second inning, where Messiah loaded the bases with two outs retired. Sophomore Lindsay Hall sent a shot into right field that appeared to bring a run across, but she was thrown out at first base to end the inning.

The Falcons scored their lone run in the seventh during a last-ditch attempt at a rally, as Hall singled to right center to drive in Rice, who reached base on a single up the middle. Messiah’s rally attempt fell mute, however, as a single from junior Jenna Batchelor was sandwiched by a strikeout and a flyout, ending the game.

Six players registered singles for Messiah, with Hall’s seventh-inning hit equating to the team’s lone RBI.

“Jessica pitched very solidly for us during the second game, but we made too many mistakes in the field to give us a realistic chance,” Weaver said. “Then, we’ve got the bases loaded and Lindsay puts one into right field, only for their rightfielder to make a great throw and get her at first. It was just one of those days where we couldn’t get a break.”

Messiah will return to the practice facility before heading to Orlando, Florida for its annual spring break trip this weekend, beginning a week-long stretch of games in the sunshine state. The Falcons will open against NCAA Division II Felician College on Monday. Game time is set for 11:30 a.m.