GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Hood College softball team could not come away with a win against Messiah University, falling 12-5 in game one and losing 6-4 in game two, with the latter called after five innings.
At the Plate
Lizzie McConnell (Stevensville, Md./Kent Island) went 2-3 with a walk and an RBI in game one.
Sam Larkin (Pasadena, Md/Chesapeake High School) finished the first game batting 2-4.
Anna Sommerkamp (Mechanicsville, Md./Chopticon) ended game two a perfect 1-1 with a walk.
In the Circle
Sydney Weaver (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) took the game-one loss, allowing nine earned runs.
Taylor Lowe (Laurel, Del./Delmarva Christian) allowed six hits and struck out three in game two.
Messiah 12, Hood 5
Neither team was able to get more than one baserunner in the first inning, but the Blazers went off in the top of the second, small balling their way to a significant 4-0 lead. The Falcons were able to get a run back though, but Weaver was able to limit the damage and get the final out.
After Hood was only able to get one runner on in the top of the third, Messiah used a similar strategy of singles and free bases to tie the game 4-4.
The Blazers were able to pull ahead in the top of the fifth with a
Kara Heidlauf (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal High School) hit scoring
Rory Achey (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land), but the Falcons responded with four in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.
Another four-spot in the bottom of the sixth gave Messiah a 12-5 advantage, and Hood was unable to score any in the top of the seventh to keep the game going.
Messiah 6, Hood 4 (5 innings)
It took much less time for the scoring to open in the second game, as the Blazers loaded the bases with three straight walks and cashed in on all three, again giving themselves an early lead at 3-0.
A two-run home run from the Falcons cut Hood's lead down to one, but an Achey single in the second inning was deep enough to score Sommerkamp from second base and make it a 4-2 advantage for the Blazers.
Messiah again made it a one-run game in the bottom of the third, and after a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth tied things 4-4, tacked on two more runs to put Hood behind 6-4.
Unfortunately for the Blazers, weather forced the teams to call the game after the fifth inning, and the shortened time frame for a comeback proved to be too much, as they went down in order in the top of the inning to end the game.
For the Opponent
Fallon Feaser and Josi Tolentino both hit home runs in game two.
Feaser finished the day 5-6 and struck out nine batters in game one.
Up Next
Hood returns home for a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader against Alvernia University Saturday, April 4 at 1 and 3 p.m.
