Seventh-ranked Falcons hold McDaniel to eight hits
WESTMINSTER, Md. – Jaclyn Merkel went a
combined 7-for-8 with five RBIs and six runs scored to lead No. 7
Messiah to a doubleheader sweep of McDaniel in non-conference
softball action on Thursday.
The Falcons (22-5) recorded a 9-1 victory in a five-inning game
one behind four innings of no-hit ball and 11 strikeouts from
Jessica Rhoads before completing the sweep with an
11-0 win in the nightcap.
Lauren Fusco (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti)
recorded two of the five hits for the Green Terror (11-13) in game
two.
In the opener, Merkel led off with a single before stealing
second. After she advanced to second on a sacrifice and a walk to
Abby Bergakker, a fielding error allowed
Lauren Seneca to reach and Merkel to score for a
1-0 lead.
Two batters later, Rhodes drove in Bergakker for a 2-0 lead.
The NCAA Division III strikeout leader then went to work,
fanning two of the first three batters she faced.
With one out in the top of the second, Ashley
Lehman singled to lead off a chain of four straight base
knocks.
After a lineout, Stephanie Schell singled up
the middle to plate two more, stretching the lead to 5-0.
A Nicole Adams two-run single made it a 7-0
game before Rhoads struck out the side in the bottom of the
frame.
A hit batter, bunt single, walk and pair of wild pitches pushed
the lead to 8-0 in the third.
A Merkel single and Jessica Brown pinch-hit
double gave Messiah a 9-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
Samantha Staub (Mt. Airy, Md./Linganore)
doubled to lead off the fifth, breaking up the perfect gaem.
Hope Battista (Crofton, Md./South River)
followed with a single to put runners at the corners before a
Lauren Wildasin (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) one-out
bunt single plated pinch-runner Ashley Crawford (New
Market, Md./Linganore) to break up the shutout.
In game two, Merkel led off with a double and stole third before
scoring on an Abi Buchler sacrifice fly.
A passed ball on a strikeout to lead off the second inning and
errant throw into center field after a tag play on the second
batter pushed the lead to 2-0 before Merkel blasted a two-out solo
shot to straightaway center field for a 3-0 lead.
A Bergakker walk and Schell RBI double in the third made it 4-0
before back-to-back doubles from Schell and Adams stretched the
lead to 5-0 in the visitor fifth.
Daniella Pusateri led off the sixth with a
single before scoring on a Merkel double.
In the seventh, a two-out error and Merkel's three-run
home run to left field keyed a five-run frame.
The Green Terror returns to action in a doubleheader against
Swarthmore at home on Saturday. The first game of the doubleheader
begins at 1 p.m.
Score by Inning – Game
One
1
2
3
4
5
-
R
H
E
No. 7 Messiah
(21-5)
2
5
1
0
1
-
9
11
0
McDaniel
(11-12)
0
0
0
0
1
-
1
3
2
Jessica Rhoads and Abby Bergakker; Ashley Meister, Kaitlyn Vadenais (3) and Hope Battista. WP: Rhoads (14-1). LP: Meister
(6-4). S: none. SO-BB: Rhoads 11-0; Meister 0-2, Vadenais 1-1. 2B:
Jessica Brown (Me), Samantha Staub (Mc).
Score by Inning – Game
Two
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
-
R
H
E
No. 7 Messiah
(22-5)
1
2
1
0
1
1
5
-
11
11
0
McDaniel
(11-13)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-
0
5
2
Jocelyn Hickey, Tori Hatt (6) and Taylor Hatt, Myranda Cox (7);
Erinne Warrenfeltz, Liz Beall (4) and Leigh Blohm, Hope Battista
(4), Tracy Davis (7). WP: Hickey (4-2). LP: Warrenfeltz (2-7). S:
none. SO-BB: Hickey 1-0, Hatt 1-0; Warrenfeltz 1-2, Beall 1-3. 2B:
Jaclyn Merkel 2 (Me), Stephanie Schell 2 (Me), Abby Bergakker (Me),
Nicole Adams (Me), MaryAnn Becker (Me). HR: Merkel 2 (Me).
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