GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Arcadia University baseball team split a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader Monday at Messiah, taking game-one 9-2 before falling 5-4 in game-two. The Knights are now 9-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play after taking two out of three games from Falcons, who are now 5-9 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
 
Arcadia took control of game-one with a four-run second inning. Sophomore Jordan Draude and senior Andonis Yiantsos drove in one run each with a double to right before senior Justin Simpson drove in a pair of runs with a single to center before being cut down at second on the play.
 
The Knights lead was 5-2 heading into the top of the fifth, where they put another four spot on the board to put the game away. Sophomore Justin Chasmar drove in juniors Nick Todero and Michael Nessel with a single down the right field line and later came around to score on a ground out. Draude then scored on an error to put Arcadia up 9-2.
 
Senior Kyle Farnholtz improved to 2-0 after allowing one run on four hits over three innings of relief. Sophomore Jake Lloyd allowed one run on three hits over the first three innings, while _ Mike Boulanger sent Messiah down in order in the bottom of the seventh. 
 
Sophomore Zach Luman took the loss for the Falcons after giving up eight runs (six earned) on eight hits and four walks over four-plus innings. freshman Adam Janney was 2 for 3 in in the game, driving in a run with a single to right in the bottom of the second and coming around to score on senior Zach Brubaker's single down the left field line in the fourth.
 
Messiah jumped out to 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second in game two as freshman Samuel Stambaugh was forced home by a bases loaded walk before senior Derek Drake scored on Brubaker's ground out to second. Janney crossed the plate on senior Jon Heisey's single to left in the third and then drove in a pair of runs with his double down the left field line in the fourth to give the Falcons a 5-0 lead.
 
Yiantsos started a four-run Arcadia rally in the top of the sixth when he crushed a solo homer to right to lead off the inning. Nessel drove in Simpson with a single to right and scored on an error to cut the deficit to 5-3, and Draude capped the scoring in the inning when he scored from third while Chasmar was caught in a rundown after taking off for second.
 
The Knights had few opportunities to score besides the sixth inning. Nessel found his way to third with one away after leading off the second with a single and Wagner put himself at second with a two-out double, but both runners were left on base.
 
Freshman David Nicolias earned the decision after allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits over 5.1 innings, while sophomore John Griffitts recorded five straight outs to close the game and record his second save of the year. Nessel took the loss after getting touched up for five run on six hits and four walks in 5.1 innings.
 
Yiantsos was 3 for 6 on the day with a double, a triple a homerun, two RBI and two runs scored, while Nessel was 4 for 8 at the plate with two runs scored and another driven in.
 
The Knights will return to action Thursday when they travel to Albright College for a 3:30 p.m. Commonwealth Conference contest.