By: Messiah Athletic Communications
EASTLAKE, Ohio – On Monday afternoon, the Messiah University baseball team used a complete game performance from Jason Long on the mound to defeat the fourth-ranked Gulls of Endicott College, 8-2 to advance to the DIII World Series Championship Series. After falling behind the previous two World Series games, the Falcons jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of RBI singles from Dustin Isanogle and Isaiah Parido. The Gulls bounced back with a run in the top of the third to reduce the Falcons lead to 2-1. The Falcons then scored four runs in the bottom of the third to give the Falcons the 6-1 lead. After a scoreless fourth, the Gulls scored a run in the top of the fifth to reduce the Falcons lead to 6-2. The Falcons added another run in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Nick Moyer to extend their lead back to five. Drew Hurst put the final run on the board for the Falcons with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to put the Falcons ahead 8-2. Jason Long finished his complete game performance on the mound with scoreless ninth inning to give the Falcons the 8-2 win and a trip to the Division III College World Series Championship Series. Drew Hurst led the Falcons with three hits, including a solo home run, two runs scored, and an RBI. Dustin Isanogle totaled two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Luke Ott added two hits, and two runs scored. Isaiah Parido tallied a hit and an RBI. Nick Moyer totaled two RBIs, and a run scored. Jason Long was brilliant on the bump for the Falcons, earning the win on a complete game, allowing two runs on seven hits, a walk, and five strikeouts.
Up next, the Falcons take on the winner of No. 3 Wisconsin-Whitewater and No. 15 Rowan University in game one of the DIII World Series Championship series on Wednesday, June 4 at 12:00 p.m. Games two and three of the championship series will be scheduled for June 5, starting at 11:00 a.m. Fans should note, due to weather concerns for Thursday, the championship series may start on Tuesday, June 3. Follow on gomessiah.com for more updates.
DIII College World Series: Messiah 8, No. 4 Endicott 2
In the top of the first, the Gulls had runners on first and second with no outs, but Jason Long got a strikeout and then a forced a double play to Nick Moyer to keep the game scoreless.
After Long stranded a runner on second in the top of the second, the Falcons looked to get on the board first in the bottom of the second. After a fly out, Luke Ott singled to center and then Nick Moyer walked to put runners on first and second with one out. After another fly out, Dustin Isanogle hit an RBI single to right field to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Isaiah Parido then ripped an RBI single down the right field line to push the Falcons lead to two headed into the top of the third.
The Gulls got a run back in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly to reduce the Falcons lead to 2-1.
The Falcons looked to extend their lead in the bottom of the third after the Gulls cut the Falcons lead to one. Drew Hurst led off the inning with a single to left field and then Evan Wagaman singled to right to put runners on first and second with no outs. After a pitching change, Dylan Beard bunted to move the runners, but the Endicott first basemen threw the ball into left field and the Falcons scored two runs to extend their lead to 4-1. Luke Ott then reached on a fielder's choice on a bunt, as the Gulls attempted to get Beard out at third, but he reached slid in safely to put runners on the corners with no outs. Nick Moyer then hit a sacrifice fly to left to extend the Falcons lead to four. After David Martinez reached on a fielder's choice and then advanced to second on a wild pitch, Dustin Isanogle hit an RBI single to left to push the Falcons lead to 6-1 through three innings of play.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Gulls got on the board in the top of the fifth with a solo home run to reduce the Falcons lead to 6-2.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Falcons looked to add another run in the bottom of the seventh. Luke Ott singled to lead off the inning and after a failed pickoff attempt went towards right field, Ott advanced to third with no outs. Nick Moyer then hit a sacrifice fly to right to push the Falcons lead to 7-2 headed into the eighth inning.
After a scoreless top half of the eighth, Drew Hurst added a run for the Falcons on a solo home run to push the Falcons lead to 8-2 headed into the final inning.
Jason Long ended the game with a scoreless top of the ninth to earn the complete game win on 133 pitches.
Stats
Drew Hurst led the Falcons with three hits, including a solo home run, two runs scored, and an RBI. Dustin Isanogle totaled two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Luke Ott added two hits, and two runs scored. Isaiah Parido tallied a hit and an RBI. Nick Moyer totaled two RBIs, and a run scored. Jason Long was brilliant on the bump for the Falcons, earning the win on a complete game, allowing two runs on seven hits, a walk, and five strikeouts.
Next
The Falcons take on the winner of No. 3 Wisconsin-Whitewater and No. 15 Rowan University in game one of the DIII World Series Championship series on Wednesday, June 4 at 12:00 p.m. Games two and three of the championship series will be scheduled for June 5, starting at 11:00 a.m. Fans should note, due to weather concerns for Thursday, the championship series may start on Tuesday, June 3. Follow on gomessiah.com for more updates.