GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Arcadia softball team busted out the brooms at Messiah Saturday, claiming game one, 8-1, and game two, 3-0. The wins are the Knights' first over the Falcons since 2013.
FOR THE RECORD:
- The Scarlet and Grey own an 18-12 record on the year, with a 10-4 mark against conference opponents.
- The Falcons are now 22-16 overall and 12-4 in the MAC Commonwealth
COACH SAYS:
- "This team is enjoying the process and hast their eyes on the postseason," said head softball coach Sarah Colletti. "We have played some incredibly talented teams this year, including regionally and nationally ranked teams, and that has prepared us to stay calm and persevere through hard times. Today's sweep of an incredibly talented team was an example of all parts of our game playing their best and coming together to take two."
GAME ONE: ARCADIA 8, MESSIAH 1
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After Messiah scored in the bottom of the second, it was all Arcadia. The Knights took the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. The first run scored as sophomore Ashley Eckett plated classmate Tori Zangrilli with a sac fly to center one, batter before senior Amanda Hess singled to left field to bring in classmate Nicole Iasiello.
- Arcadia followed with a big sixth inning. Zangrilli laid down a bunt single to plate junior Jackie Bilotti. Following a pitching change, the next batter, Iasiello, singled to bring in freshman Jackie Zwicker and load the bases for Eckett, who sent her first career home run over the fence for a grand slam.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Bilotti, freshman Alexis Burge, Zangrilli and Iasiello all had two hits.
- Eckett drove in five runs in the game.
IN THE CIRCLE:
- Sophomore Mary Pat Murray (7-6) tossed seven innings of one run ball and struck out five batters.
- Carrie Fix (8-6) allowed six runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Madelyn Yannetti allowed two runs in 1.2 innings.
GAME TWO: ARCADIA 3, MESSIAH 0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Sophomore Hunter Schantz singled in junior Kristin Cancelliere in the top of the first inning.
- The Knights tacked on two more runs in the seventh, first when sophomore Ashton Evans scored as Iasiello reached on an error by the shortstop, then when Eckett singled in Burge with one out.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Schantz had two hits in the game.
- Schantz and Eckett each drove in a run.
IN THE CIRCLE:
- Sophomore Kylee Schwind (7-4) picked up the win in 4.1 innings of scoreless relief. Murray allowed just one hit in the first 2.2 innings.
- Joy Kolakowski (8-4) allowed three runs (one earned) in the complete game for Messiah.
NOTES:
- The wins mark the Knights'' first over the Falcons since a 12-8 win March 2, 2013.
- This is the first time Messiah has been swept at home since Gettysburg did so March 27, 2013.
- This is the first conference sweep of the Falcons since Lebanon Valley did it April 6, 2013.
- The teams last met in a 1-0, 19-inning battle in last year's MAC Commonwealth Championship.
UP NEXT:
- Arcadia hits the road against Monday, as it travels to Wesley.
