Softball Rallies In The Second Game For A Split With Messiah On Senior Day

(Game 1) / (Game 2)

Widener celebrated its eight graduating seniors today as it hosted Messiah for a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader, losing the first game 8-0 before rallying in the bottom of the seventh inning to win its final game of the season 4-3.

In game one Widener had just two hits, both of which occurred in the bottom of the seventh inning, and scored no runs in the game. In the top of the first inning, after senior starting pitcher Christine Mattis (Drexel Hill, PA) struck out the first two batters, Messiah strung together a single to left field, a base on balls and a homerun to center field to give itself a 3-0 lift. Between the sixth and seventh innings the Falcons added five more runs—all unearned—to win the first of two 8-0. Mattis (5-7) is saddled with the loss after pitching three innings. Mallory Rutledge received the win for Messiah after pitching a no-hitter up until the seventh inning when freshman Alie Alkins (Aston, PA) and senior Casey Hargadon (Wallingford, PA) each had singles.

Game two remained scoreless until the Pride (18-20, 7-11 CC) scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman Heather Forward (Philadelphia, PA) hit a one-out single through the left side and advanced to third on a double to deep center hit by junior pitcher Jackie Korang (Delran, NJ). Senior catcher Shelby Mackintosh (Lumberton, NJ) hit a line drive single to center field to score Forward and sophomore Carissa Harris (Douglassville, PA) hit a single through the right side to score Korang before the inning ended.

Messiah (25-13, 11-7) took the lead in the top of the sixth inning with three runs on two hits and an error. Runners were on first and second with one out for Stephanie Schell, who hit a line drive single to center to score both runners. Schell scored on a center field double. In the flipside of the inning the Pride tied the game up with an unearned run. Forward reached on a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs down, Hargadon made it to first on a error by the first baseman. On the same play Forward rounded third and went home, sliding in to force the catcher to mishandle the ball to allow her to be safe and tie the game before the inning ended with a groundout.

In the top of the seventh, Korang retired the batters in order with to pop-ups and a groundout. Senior Colleen Orsborn (Drexel Hill, PA) reached first on a fielder's choice and was moved around the diamond thanks to three consecutive singles from Alkins, senior Jen Nance (Lansdowne, PA), and Forward—scoring on Forward's hit down the left-field line.

Korang (6-6) is credited with the win after pitching the full seven innings and giving up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and striking out two. Rutledge (11-6) came in to pitch relief and receives the loss after pitching 1 1/3 innings and giving up the game-winning run.

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