Win Streak Ends at 11, Falcons Split Doubleheader with York - Messiah University Athletics (2024)

GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah baseball team saw their 11-game win streak come to an end on Saturday afternoon, dropping Game One of a doubleheader against the York Spartans by a 7-0 final. The Falcons rebounded with a 9-2 victory in the nightcap to salvage a split of the twin-bill and set up a decisive Game Three on Sunday afternoon in York. After a quiet Game One at the plate the Falcons picked things up in Game Two, highlighted by a six-run fourth inning en route to the 9-2 victory.

Game One – York defeats Messiah - 7-0
The Spartans got on the board early with three runs in the top of second on three hits and a hit by pitch. The Falcons looked to answer with a leadoff single from Evan Wagaman, but York got out of the inning with a pop out and an inning ending double play.

The Spartans scored a run in the top of the third and the fourth to extend their lead to 5-0. The Falcons looked to get the offense going in the bottom of the fourth. After a leadoff strikeout, Drew Hurst reached on an error and then Joshua Ammons singled down the left field line to put runners on first and second with one out. Once again, the Spartans got an inning ending double play to get out of the jam.

The Spartans added two runs in the top of the seventh and shut down the Falcons in the bottom half to give the Spartans a 7-0 win in game one.

Joshua Ammons and Evan Wagaman each tallied one hit for the Falcons.

Game Two – Messiah defeats York - 9-2
The bats came alive in Game Two with the Falcons earning a 9-2 victory over the York Spartans. Messiah plated six runs in the bottom of the fourth to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 7-2 lead. Dustin Isanogle lined a two-run double in the seventh to add some insurance as the Falcons improved to 12-2 in the conference this season.

Messiah started the second game of the doubleheader with a first-inning sacrifice fly from Evan Wagaman to get on the board and take a 1-0 lead. York countered with a pair of runs in the third to snag a 2-1 advantage.

The Falcons threatened for runs in the bottom half of the frame, loading the bases with just one out. A double-play ball ended the inning and kept the Spartans in control at 2-1. Messiah would rally an inning later and score six runs on five hits to flip the momentum of the game. Dustin Isanogle started the inning with a leadoff double and after a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt, Messiah had runners on the corners. A walk loaded the bases and Messiah proceeded to score on the next five-straight plate appearances. Drew Hurst, Joshua Ammons, Dylan Beard, and Luke Ott all collected RBI singles while Evan Wagaman lifted a sacrifice fly to give Messiah a 6-2 lead. Later in the inning, Dylan Beard stole third and headed home when the catcher's throw went into left field.

In the seventh inning, Dustin Isanogle lined a two-run double down the left-field line to push Messiah's lead to seven runs at 9-2.

The Spartans put together their best threat of the late innings in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with no outs. Noah Barrall entered the game in relief of Jason Long and got out of the threat, getting a strike out, a foul out, and a fly out to end the inning.

Jason Long earned the start and turned in another stellar showing on the mound. En route to his sixth win of the season, Long went seven innings, allowing two earned runs and nine hits while striking out four and walking two.

Noah Barrall threw two innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out one while stranding the bases loaded in the eighth.

What's Up Next
The Falcons and Spartans will finish their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in York.