GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Messiah College picked up the only two runs early in the nightcap to sweep Gettysburg College in non-conference softball action on Tuesday.
 
Messiah (11-13) took the opener 9-3. Gettysburg (11-11) struck first as junior Rachel Julie (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff) reached base on a walk and stole second, eventually making it across the plate as sophomore Shelby Baker (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) grounded out to second base in the bottom of the first inning.
 
The Falcons notched three runs in the top of the third inning to take the 3-1 advantage. The Bullets then matched the score at three all when Brynn Griffith (Maple Glen, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) hit the RBI single and junior Liz Cowell (Verona, N.J./Mount Saint Dominic) added the sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame.
 
The visitors tacked on two more runs in the fifth and four in the sixth inning to take game one from the Bullets.
 
Griffith went 2-for-3 with a run, RBI, and triple. Senior Meredith Taylor (Hamilton, N.J./Northern Burlington) went 2-for-2.
 
Senior Morgan Clauser (Columbus, N.J./Northern Burlington) struck out five, allowing eight hits and nine runs (six earned) in five innings.
 
Messiah cashed in with the only runs in the nightcap in the top of the first inning. With two outs, McKenzie Tebbs reached base on a walk followed by an Erin Cressman double, pushing Tebbs to third. A two-RBI single through the right side by Jaelynn Harbold allowed Tebbs and Creeman to score.  
 
Gettysburg only tallied three hits in the game one from junior Taylor Doi (Foster City, Calf./San Mateo), sophomore Emily Colline (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata), and Baker.
 
Freshman Skylar Spinner (Montebello, N.Y./Suffern) took the loss after allowing six hits and two runs, while tying a career-high four strikeouts from the circle.
 
Gettysburg returns to conference play at Ursinus College on Saturday at 1 p.m.