ASHLAND, Va. – On Friday afternoon, the Messiah University baseball team used a pair of big innings with a stellar outing on the mound from Zachary Harris to defeat the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon, 15-0 in the NCAA Tournament Regional opener. The Falcons started the scoring in the top of the second with a six-run inning to take an early 6-0 lead. After four straight scoreless innings, the Falcons added another run to take a 7-0 lead through seven innings. The Falcons continued the scoring in the top of the ninth, scoring eight runs to earn the 15-0 win. Zachary Harris was brilliant on the mound, pitching 7.2 scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and striking out nine batters. Jarrett Gordon led the Falcons with three doubles and six RBIs. Drew Hurst and Evan Wagaman each tallied three hits for the Falcons. David Martinez added two hits and three RBIs.
Up next, the Falcons take on the Monarchs of Methodist University on Saturday, May 17 at 12:00 p.m. at Randolph-Macon College. With a win the Falcons will advance to the regional finals on Sunday.
Messiah 15, RMC 0
After a scoreless first, the Falcons looked to take an early lead. Evan Wagaman led off the inning with a double to right center field. After Dylan Beard reached on a hit by pitch, Luke Ott moved the two runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. After a Nick Moyer walk loaded the bases, David Martinez ripped a two-RBI single up the middle to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead. Dustin Isanogle then reached on a fielder's choice and Isaiah Parido walked to again load the bases for the Falcons. Jarrett Gordon then drilled a three-RBI double down the left-field line, past a diving Yellow Jackets third basemen to give the Falcons a 5-0 lead. Drew Hurst then hit a pop up to the short stop, but a drop from the Yellow Jackets' infielder, gave the Falcons the 6-0 lead after the top of the first.
Zachary Harris continued to dominate on the mound, pitching six scoreless innings with three hits allowed and seven strikeouts to keep the Yellow Jackets off the board and the Falcons held onto the 6-0 lead through six innings of play.
After four scoreless innings, the Falcons looked to add to their lead in the top of the seventh. With one out, Jarrett Gordon hit his second double of the game to put a runner in scoring position for the Falcons. Drew Hurst then lined a single into right field to put runners on the corners with one out. After a strikeout, and then a Dylan Beard hit by pitch, Luke Ott drew a bases loaded walk to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead through seven innings.
After a scoreless eighth, the Falcons looked to put the finishing touches on the regional opener in the top of the ninth. Drew Hurst and Evan Wagaman led off the inning with singles to put runners on the corner with no outs. Carter Reid and Luke Ott then hit back-to-back RBI singles to push the Falcons lead to nine. After a Nick Moyer walk, Reid scored from third on a wild pitch and David Martinez hit an RBI single to extend the Falcons lead to 11. After a ground out and a hit by pitch from Isaiah Parido, Jarrett Gordon cleared the bases again with another three-RBI double to extend the Falcons lead to 14. Drew Hurst capped off the Falcons big inning with an RBI double to give the Falcons a 15-0 lead entering the bottom of the ninth.
Kolten Martin pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to give the Falcons the 15-0 win.
Stats
Zachary Harris was brilliant on the mound, pitching 7.2 scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and striking out nine batters. Jarrett Gordon led the Falcons with three doubles and six RBIs. Drew Hurst and Evan Wagaman each tallied three hits for the Falcons. David Martinez added two hits and three RBIs. Luke Ott added hit and two RBIs. Kolten Martin threw a scoreless ninth with one strikeout.
Next
The Falcons take on the Monarchs of Methodist University on Saturday, May 17 at 12:00 p.m. at Randolph-Macon College. With a win the Falcons will advance to the regional finals on Sunday.