Box Score (Game One)
Box Score (Game Two)

The Eastern Mennonite University baseball team got strong pitching efforts from sophomore Jesse Baker (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) and freshman Michael Moles (Waynesboro, Va./Stuarts Draft), but it was not enough as EMU fell in both games of a double header to Messiah College Saturday afternoon on Jopson Field in Bridgewater, Va.

The Royals fall to 0-5 to start the season as they suffered a 5-3 loss in game one and were on the short end of a 3-2 decision in game two. Messiah College, from Grantham, Pennsylvania, opens their 2008 campaign at 2-0.

Baker pitched a complete game in the opening contest between the two teams as the 6'1" right hander scattered six hits over seven innings. He allowed five runs, no earned, with one walk and one strikeout.

Freshman center fielder Chris Harpine (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge) went 3-for-4 from the dish with a run scored and an RBI while freshmen left fielder Chris Handler (Mesa, Ariz./Skyline) and Jake Norman (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge) each went 2-for-3 in the first game.

EMU held a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the third inning when the Falcons exploded for five runs with the big blow coming off the bat of Ben Kirk singled home two on an RBI single to center field.

Craig Mease, Adam Ranck, and Jordan Zimmerman also had RBIs for the visiting Falcons. Starting pitcher Dan Kern picked up the win as he went five innings, allowing seven hits with two runs with five strikeouts. Chandler Schaeffer picked up the save with two scoreless innings of relief.

In the second game, EMU held a 2-1 lead as the Royals were able to scratch across a run in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore second baseman Cody Davis (Goodview, Va./Staunton River) crossed home plate following a sacrifice bunt by freshman shortstop Micah Grizzell (Locust Grove, Ga./Luella) and a single off the bat of Ben Wise (Staunton River, Va./Robert E. Lee).

Wise and sophomore catcher Zach Polloni (Hatfield, Pa./Christopher Dock) each had two hits in five trips to the plate for EMU.

Messiah then took the lead back in the top of the seventh inning as an EMU error and two hits led to two runs for the Falcons with the visiting team going ahead 3-2.

The Royals rally attempts in the next three innings were shut down by starting pitcher Jeremy Stoltzfus as he went the distance for his first win of the year. Stoltzfus allowed only eight hits, two runs, two earned, three walks, and five strikeouts.

Overshadowed in the loss to Messiah was the strong work of freshman pitcher Michael Moles (Waynesboro, Va./Stuarts Draft). Moles pitched six innings, scattering four hits, with one run, no earned, with five strikeouts for EMU in his only his second collegiate start.

EMU will now compete in the Shenandoah Classic next Saturday, February 23, as the Royals face off against DeSales at 12 p.m., in Winchester, Va.