GLENSIDE, Pa.  – The Arcadia University softball team hosted Messiah in MAC Commonwealth play Saturday afternoon on Blankley Field, falling 4-3 in game one and 6-0 in game two to the 10th-ranked Falcons. The Knights now sit at 15-7 on the season with a 5-3 MAC Commonwealth record, while Messiah is now 23-4 overall and 9-1 in the conference.
 
GAME 1: MESSIAH 4, ARCADIA 3
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Falcons got on the board first in the opener, as Sydney Boreman reached on a one-out fielder's choice in the top of the second that brought home Erin Cressman from third. After Arcadia hit three consecutive one-out singles in the bottom of the frame, junior Nicole Iasiello scored from third when freshman Ashley Eckett was hit by a pitch. The 1-1 tie would remain until the fifth inning.
 
With runners on second and third and one out, Amanda Jones singled through the left side to drive in two runs. The next batter, Cressman, singled to shortstop to plate Samantha Esper from third. Arcadia fought back in the bottom of the frame, led off by a single to shortstop by sophomore Jackie Bilotti. With Bilotti on second following a steal, classmate Kristin Cancelliere sent a 2-2 pitch to center field for a triple to plate Bilotti. Cancelliere went on to score in the next at-bat, when junior Amanda Hess reached on a fielding error by the second baseman.
 
ARCADIA AT THE PLATE: The Knights recorded nine base hits in the first game, led by a 2-4, one RBI outings from both Cancelliere and Hess.  Bilotti, Iasiello, junior Kaylee Zarick and freshmen Bekah Good and Tori Zangrilli each had one hit in the game.
 
MESSIAH AT THE PLATE: Messiah had eight hits in the opener, led by a 2-4 showing from Esper and 2-3 outing from Haylee Anders. Jones' two-RBI led all players, while Cressman and Amber Bingaman each had one.
 
IN THE CIRCLE: Freshman Kylee Schwind (7-4) suffered the loss for Arcadia, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with two walks. Carrie Fix (9-2) got the win for Messiah, allowing three earned runs on nine hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work. Madelyn Yannetti picked up the save as she recorded the final two outs.
 
GAME 2: MESSIAH 6, ARCADIA 0
HOW IT HAPPENED: A solo home run to lead off the top of the second was the only run scored over first 5.2 innings. Yanetti sent a single to right to plate Jones and Esper with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, before the Falcons added three unearned runs in the top of the seventh.
 
ARCADIA AT THE PLATE: Cancelliere, Hess, Zangrilli, Good and freshman Sara Shelton all recorded a hit for the Knights.
 
MESSIAH AT THE PLATE: Esper and Jones led Messiah with two hits and two runs each, while Cressman and Yannetti each had two RBI.
 
IN THE CIRCLE: Freshman Mary Pat Murray (6-2) took the loss for Arcadia, allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Yannetti (11-1) threw seven innings, allowing five hits with two strikeouts.