GRANTHAM, Pa.--The No. 5 Messiah College Falcons (20-5) swept a pair of nonconference ballgames from the Hood College softball team (11-13) Tuesday by scores of 5-0 in the opener and 6-4 in the nightcap.

Messiah's Jessica Rhoads was dominant in the opener, striking out 14 Blazer hitters and surrendering just two base hits to improve to 13-1. Erin McNally collected both of Hood's hits; she singled to lead off the top of the fifth and break up Rhoads' no-hit bid, then lined a two-out double to right center in the top of the seventh. Hood was unable to capitalize with the runner in scoring position as Rhoads fanned Kelly Gafner to lock up the shutout.

Jordan Wolford started for Hood and worked 4.2 innings while allowing four earned runs on eight hits. McNally worked the final 1.1 innings of relief and gave up an unearned run on three hits.

Messiah plated one run in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the sixth. Abby Bergakker and Jaclyn Merkel both drove in a pair of runs for the Falcons.

Hood jumped on Messiah's game two starter Corinn Eby early, scoring four runs over the first two innings. Brittany Sabol drilled a clutch two-out single to right field, which brought around Wolford and McNally, in the top of the first. Then in the top of the second, McNally jacked a two-run dinger, her second home run of the season, over the left field fence to stake the visitors to a 4-0 lead and chase Eby after just 1.1 innings.

But the Falcon bats came alive in the bottom of the third as Messiah plated four runs on five base hits. Bergakker and Stephanie Schell knocked in two runs apiece in the frame to knot the score at 4-4. Second baseman Bridgette Ringley speared a pair of line drives to end the threat.

After a scoreless fourth, the Falcons took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth on RBI-singles by Lindsay Hall and Daniella Pusateri.

The Blazers mustered just one base hit the rest of the way, a two-out double off the bat of Wolford in the top of the seventh.

Ringley started for the Blazers and worked the first 2.1 innings before Wolford came in in relief and took the tough loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits.

McNally posted her seventh multi-hit game of the season for Hood.

The Blazers have a huge doubleheader awaiting them Friday at Capital Athletic Conference rival Stevenson University. The Blazers are currently in third place in the standings with a 6-4 CAC record while the Mustangs are in fifth at 5-5. First pitch from Stevenson is slated for 3 p.m.