Box Score

Newport News, VA - Messiah College dropped their first game of the 2012 NCAA Regionals on Wednesday, succumbing to a late rally by Rowan University in a 9-6 loss.

Rowan raced out to a 3-0 start in the top of the first inning, with four straight batters reaching base with one out to contribute to produce the early lead. Messiah starting pitcher Wes Hollenbach walked three batters in the frame—the only walks he would allow in 4.1 innings pitched.
 
Not to be outdone, the Falcons responded with three runs of their own in the top of the second inning. The first four batters of the inning reached base, starting with a double by John Brubaker. Messiah took advantage of two throwing errors in the inning by Rowan to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The score would remain tied until the bottom of the third inning, when Rowan would take a 4-3 lead on a double-play groundout. Rowan added two runs in the fifth inning and three more in the seventh inning to pull ahead 9-3.

Messiah was able to make some noise in the eighth inning, with RBI singles off the bat of Brubaker and Jacob Sprengle. Unfortunately, the Falcons could not complete the comeback as Sam Tajiri struck out swinging as the tying run in that inning. The Falcons went down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning en route to a 9-6 loss.
 
The Falcons will play again on Friday, with the opponent to be determined and the time believed to be 9:30 a.m.

More on this story to follow...