GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Arcadia University baseball team recorded a 5-2 MAC Commonwealth victory at Messiah College Tuesday, giving the Knights 2-1 win in the season series. Arcadia improved to 15-9-1 overall and 6-3 in conference play, while the Falcons dropped to 10-14 overall and 4-5 in league action.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Knights got out in front first in the top of the third when freshman Bryan Gillen scored on an error in right field to take a 1-0 lead, and took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to go up 3-2. Back-to-back doubles from juniors Jordan Draude and Justin Chasmar tied the game, and freshman Nick Ponente's single to center scored Chasmar with what proved to be the game-winning run. Another error allowed Gillen to score in the seventh inning, and Ponente scored on a squeeze play in the eighth to cap the scoring.
 
Messiah scored both of its runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jon Mullin tied the game when he crossed the plat eon Ryan Adamus' single through the left side of the infield, and Ben Sollenber scored on a Joseph Saufley's sac fly to center. The Falcons had other quality scoring opportunities, but stranded a total of seven base runners in the game, four of whom were in scoring position.
 
ON THE HILL: Freshman Joel Bartoni improved to 3-1 for the Knights after allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. He fanned five batters in his six innings of work with no free passes. Classmate Zach Manasek picked up the first save of his collegiate career after yielding just two hits over the final three innings. Steven Ridlings took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in the game, dropping his record to 2-4.
 
ARCADIA AT BAT: Ponente had the only multi-hit game of the day for the Knights, going 2 for 3 with a pair of singles, one RBI and one run scored, while Gillen scored a pair of runs without the benefit of a hit. Chasmar was 1 for 4 with a double, and RBI and a run scored.
 
MESSIAH AT BAT: Sollenberger collected two of the Falcons seven hits in the game, going 2 for 4  with two singles and a run scored. Kyle Shoen was 1 for 4 with a double, which was Messiah's only extra-base hit of the day.
 
FOR THE SERIES: Ponente posted a .500 (4-8) batting average with three runs scored and another driven in against the Falcons, while Chasmar batted .444 (4-9) with three doubles and one triple for a 1.000 slugging percentage; he also collected three RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Drew Coisson batted .400 (4-10) with two runs scored and another driven in.