Reading, PA – Messiah splits their double header with Alvernia today, winning the first game 6-2 and dropping the second 8-4. David Sletta highlighted game one with a three-run triple in the sixth inning, helping the Falcons to the win.
 
Game One
 
Alvernia went ahead early on an RBI single by Matt Patterson, scoring Dustin Stuck from second base. An infield fly-out and a lineout to left field ended the first inning with the Crusaders up 1-0.
 
The Falcons tied the game in the top of the second when Casey Ebersole singled with bases loaded, scoring Josh Good. David Sletta rounded third from second but was thrown out at the plate. Alvernia ended the inning with a strikeout.
 
Messiah was again in a bases loaded situation the next inning but Alvernia's Mike Weinhold kept the Falcons off the board and the game stayed tied at 1-1.
 
The 1-1 tie continued through the next three innings and into the sixth. Messiah broke the tie when Jon Lapp was able to score from second base on a throwing error by Alvernia.
 
The Falcons took advantage of a couple of errors in the seventh inning to load the bases once more. Sletta then hit a 3-RBI triple to put the Falcons up 5-1. Lapp batted Sletta home with a bunt to increase the lead to 6-1.
 
The Crusaders made an effort to come back in the bottom of the seventh but could not get more than one run. Steven Ridings finished out his complete game for Messiah with one strikeout and nine hits.
 
Game Two
 
In game two, Alvernia started out strong with a four-run first inning credited to Chris Gehris' three-run homer. At the end of the first Alvernia led 4-1 over Messiah.
 
Alvernia increased their lead to 6-1 in the second inning with a single by Richie Ricciardi that scored two runners.
 
Messiah shortened the gap to three because of a couple of doubles in the bottom of the third inning. Brubaker hit the first double to get on base and was sent home on a throwing error. Jake Sprengle then doubled to send Derek Drake home.
 
Colby Helgerson came in to pitch for Adam Marshall in the bottom of the fifth with runners on the corners. However, Alvernia loaded the bases shortly after and Helgerson walked a run in for the Crusaders.
 
With no outs yet in the fifth, Zach Nadolny grounded out to shortstop but drove in a run in the process for an 8-4 lead. Two more groundouts ended the scoring for Alvernia in the fifth.
 
The Falcons went three-and-out in the sixth and would have to make up the four-run deficit in the seventh. Alvernia's Steve Price was too strong though, and ended the game with the 8-4 advantage. Price finished with seven strikeouts in the complete game.
 
With the result Messiah moves to 5-5 on the year, while Alvernia goes to 10-4 overall. The Falcons will next host the Crusaders for a single game on Monday, Mar. 24, at 3:30 p.m.