Story Courtesy of Messiah Athletics

GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday afternoon, the Messiah University baseball team fell in game two of the semifinal series, but won game three, 4-3 over the Spartans of York College to advance to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Series.
In game two of the series, the Falcons opened the game strong with a run in the first and three runs in the second to take a 4-0 lead. The Spartans responded with two runs in the top of the second to cut the Falcons lead to 4-2. After two scoreless innings, the Spartans scored three runs in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead. The Falcons scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, but the Spartans retook the lead in the top of the eighth with a run. The Falcons could not bring home the tying run, and the Spartans earned the 6-5 win to force a game three in the series. Isaiah Parido led the Falcons with two hits and an RBI. Matt Luchovick totaled two hits. Drew Hurst and Landon Mark each added a hit and an RBI.
In game three of the series, The Spartans opened the game with a run in the top of the first, but the Falcons responded in the bottom half with two runs to take a 2-1 lead. After two scoreless innings, the Falcons scored a run in the fourth and the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. After a scoreless sixth, the Spartans battled back with a run in the seventh and eighth to reduce the Falcons lead to 4-3 headed into the final frame. Owen Thornton pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save and advance the Falcons to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Series. David Martinez led the Falcons with two hits and an RBI. Landon Mark totaled two hits and a run scored. Drew Hurst and Carter Reid each added a hit and an RBI.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Pride of Widener University for first two games of the MAC Commonwealth Championship series on Friday, May 8 with game one starting at 12:00 p.m.

Game Two: York 6, Messiah 5
The Falcons looked to get on the board first in the bottom of the first. Isaiah Parido led off the game with a single. After a fly out and a Drew Hurst ground out that advanced Parido to second, Landon Mark hit an RBI single up the middle to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
 
After another scoreless inning from Jason Long on the mound, the Falcons looked to add to their lead in the bottom of the second. Nick Moyer and Matt Luchovick led off the inning with a single each. Brayden Kratz then walked to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, Isaiah Parido hit an RBI single to push the Falcons lead to two. After a Cristian Reyna sacrifice fly, Drew Hurst hit an RBI single to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead through two innings.
The Spartans then scored two runs in the top of the third to cut the Falcons lead to 4-2.
 
After two more scoreless innings from Jason Long, the Spartans scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead.
 
The Falcons looked to get back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh. After a Drew Hurst walked, Landon Mark reached on a fielder's choice. After a Carter Reid walk, Matt Luchovick and Brody Travagline were hit by a pitch in back-to-back at-bats to tie the game at five headed into the eighth.
 
The Spartans scored a run in the eighth and did not allow any more runs from the Falcons to earn the win and force a game three in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal series.
 
Stats
Isaiah Parido led the Falcons with two hits and an RBI. Matt Luchovick totaled two hits. Drew Hurst and Landon Mark each added a hit and an RBI. Jason Long earned the start on the mound throwing 5.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and six strikeouts. Nick Emig pitched a scoreless inning for the Falcons out of the bullpen with a strikeout
 
Game Three: Messiah 4, York 3
The Spartans started the game strong with a solo home run to take a 1-0 in the top of the first.
 
The Falcons though looked to respond in the bottom of the first. Isaiah Parido led off the game with a walk and then Cristian Reyna singled to put runners on first and third with no outs. Drew Hurst then hit an RBI fielder's choice to tie the game at one. After a Landon Mark double, Brayden Kratz hit a sacrifice fly to give the Falcons the 2-1 lead after the first inning.
 
After two scoreless innings from Daniel Knight, the Falcons looked to add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. After two quick outs, Nick Moyer singled up the middle to keep the inning alive. After a Matt Luchovick single, David Martinez hit an RBI single to give the Falcons a 3-1 through four.
 
After another scoreless inning from Daniel Knight, the Falcons looked to keep the momentum going at the plate. After a line out, Landon Mark hit a single through the right side. After a pop out, Carter Reid hit an RBI double to increase the Falcons lead to 4-3.
 
The Spartans then scored a run in the top of the seventh and eighth to cut the Falcons lead to one headed into the final inning.
 
Owen Thornton pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save and advance the Falcons to the MAC Commonwealth Championship series.
 
Stats
 David Martinez led the Falcons with two hits and an RBI. Landon Mark totaled two hits and a run scored. Drew Hurst and Carter Reid each added a hit and an RBI. Daniel Knight earned the win with eight innings pitched, allowing three runs on eight hits and one strikeout. Owen Thornton threw a scoreless ninth out of the pen.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Pride of Widener University for first two games of the MAC Commonwealth Championship series on Friday, May 8 with game one starting at 12:00 p.m.