READING, Pa. – The fourth-seeded Arcadia University softball team challenged top-seeded, and seventh-ranked Messiah in MAC Commonwealth Championship action Saturday afternoon, falling 1-0 in a 19-inning affair. The Knights (28-12) take on third-seeded Lebanon Valley Sunday in an elimination game, while Messiah (34-6) advances to take on second-seeded Widener.
 
THE MARATHON: At 19 innings, the game is the third longest in NCAA Division III history. The longest game in NCAA Division III history came in 1992 when SUNY Cortland defeated Le Moyne 3-2 in 21 innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Scarlet and Grey threatened to score in the top of the first inning when, following a lead-off single, sophomore Jackie Bilotti moved to second on a single by junior Amanda Hess two batters later. Bilotti then moved to third when freshman Mary Pat Murray reached on a fielder's choice and an error by the second baseman allowed Hess to advance to second. The Falcons also moved their lead runner to third, but were unable to bring her home.
 
From there, the game became a defensive battle. Neither team allowed a runner to reach third until the bottom of the seventh when a Madelyn Yannetti single to left center allowed Ashley Carrol to move from first to third; the next two batters were retired to end the inning. Messiah would have a first and third situation with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, before Murray got Carrie Fix to pop out to get out of the inning.
 
Arcadia had the go-ahead run 60 feet away in the top of the 12th as Hess came to the dish with the bases loaded and two outs after a single to center from sophomore Kristin Cancelliere. Sophomore Kayla Resh, who began the play on second, had a chance to score on the play, however obstruction was called on the shortstop and Resh was awarded third base.
 
Messiah again threatened in the bottom of the 15th, but to no avail. After leading off with a single, Samantha Esper was thrown out trying to steal second for out number one. Two batters later, Erin Cressman singled before Amber Bingaman singled to center allowing Cressman to move to third. Angie Stephano flied out to right to end the inning. The Knights got out of another jam in the 16th after being presented with a second and third, one out situation.
 
After retiring the first two batters in the bottom of the 19th, Cressman walked before Bingaman singled to the pitcher. Stephano followed with a single to short to load the bases before Cressman scored on a passed ball.
 
ARCADIA AT THE PLATE: Bilotti led the Knights with two hits, while Cancelliere, Hess, Murray, Resh, freshman Tori Zangrilli and juniors Nicole Iasiello and Kaylee Zarick each recorded one base knock.
 
MESSIAH AT THE PLATE: Bingaman had three hits to lead Messiah, with Amanda Jones, Shannon Denny, Emily Quatrale and Yannetti each registering two hits.
 
IN THE CIRCLE: Both pitchers bested the NCAA Division III record for innings pitched as Yanetti tossed 19 innings, while Murray threw 18.2; the previous record was 18 innings by Lori Nelson of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1985. Murray (11-4) took the loss, allowing one unearned run on 16 hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Yanetti (16-3) got the win allowing eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts.