Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

GRANTHAM, Pa. – More than a week removed from its last taste of action, the Gettysburg softball team nearly pulled off an upset of sixth-ranked Messiah College, but the Falcons pulled out a 4-3 win in the opener before breaking out the bats for a 10-2 win in the nightcap.

Gettysburg (10-6), which last took the field on March 20, fell behind by three in the first game at Messiah (16-2) heading into the sixth inning. The Bullets jumped on the board in a big way as freshman Maggie Maguire belted her team-leading fifth home run of the spring, a two-run shot to right-center, with two outs. Sophomore Sam Bader followed up two batters later with a run-scoring single to tie the contest.

The Falcons turned in their own two-out magic in the home half of the sixth as Sara Dietrich doubled to center and later scored on a single by Stephanie Schell for the go-ahead run.

Gettysburg put runners on first and second with one out, but Dietrich shut the door with a strike out and ground out to finish the game.

The Bullets took the lead 2-1 in the second inning of the nightcap as senior Megan Lott posted an RBI single and Bader scored on a passed ball. Bader's tally would be the visitor's final as Dietrich allowed only one more hit over the final three frames.

Messiah scored runs in every inning of game two, including a four-run fourth to blow the game open. Dietrich picked up wins in both ends of the doubleheader, allowing just four hits and striking out four over 6.1 innings of work.

Bader led Gettysburg with three hits on the day. Sophomore Joy Hallfors went 2-for-4 in the opener, while Maguire added two walks in the finale to her home run.

Gettysburg returns to the diamond for a non-conference affair at Susquehanna University on Thursday, March 31, at 3 p.m.