FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College softball team dropped a doubleheader (11-2, 9-2) to the visiting Messiah College Falcons Friday afternoon in non-conference action at the Hood Softball Complex.

Hood slips to 5-11 while the Falcons improve to 14-5.

In game one, Hood jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Jamie Bussey. But in the top of the third, the Falcons batted around and plated four runs on six basehits. Three of Messiah's hits in the frame went for extra bases.

After two scoreless innings, the Falcons tacked on another run in the top of the sixth on a Hood fielding error. But the Blazers got that run back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI-double by Ashley Lenhart to make it 5-2.

The Falcons broke the game wide open in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs on eight basehits, including a two-run homer by Nicole Adams. Abby Bergakker also had a two-run double in the inning.

Hood got its first two runners on in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to deliver the clutch basehit. Tamara Maggard popped up to the pitcher, Jamie Bussey flied out to right and cleanup hitter Kara Robert grounded out to end the Blazer rally.

The Falcons rapped out 20 basehits off Hood hurler Jamie Gardner, who went the distance and gave up eight earned runs with two strikeouts and a walk. Three Falcon pitchers combined to surrender just seven Blazer hits.

In the nightcap, the Falcons struck first in the top of the second on a two-run double to left by Laura Trotter. Messiah added two more run in the third, one on a wild pitch and the other on a single up the middle by Bergakker.

Hood cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning on a Messiah fielding error and an RBI-single by Christine Harvey.

Messiah then added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings after Megan Rice belted a solo homerun to right and Rebecca Croft scored on a Blazer error.

Then in the top of the seventh, the Falcons reeled off four consecutive doubles and plated three runs to assume a 9-2 advantage. Sara Wastler led off Hood's half with a double to right-center and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Robert. But Harvey popped up to second for the final out of the inning.

Maggard took the loss, allowing five runs, only one earned, on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks over five innings of work. Wastler extended her hit streak to five in a row and registered her second straight multi-hit game.

The Blazers next doubleheader is slated for Friday, April 6, against Gallaudet University at the Hood Softball Complex. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.