STEVENSON, Md. – Stevenson University and Messiah College split a MAC Commonwealth baseball doubleheader on Stevenson's Senior Day at Sugar Field Saturday afternoon.  The Mustangs took a 3-2 win in the opener before the Falcons prevailed in a 1-0 pitchers' duel in the nightcap.

All five runs in the opener came in the third inning as Messiah (18-17, 11-7 MAC Commonwealth) scored twice in the top half of the frame before Stevenson (17-19, 8-9 MAC Commonwealth) pushed across three runs in the bottom of the inning.  A Kyle Schoen single to center got Messiah on the board as it plated Ben Sollenberger, while an Austin Pletcher sac fly brought in Joseph Saufley to make it 2-0.

Sophomore John D'Aquanno doubled to lead off the bottom of the third, then moved to third on a ball hit to short by senior Ian Eberly that the Falcons tried to get D'Aquanno at third but were unsuccessful.  Freshman Matthew Kerber singled to right to bring in D'Aquanno and move Eberly to third.  Eberly would score when Kerber stole second and the throw from behind the plate was offline and sailed into center field.  Kerber scored on another Falcon error when the Messiah third baseman tried to tag him on a ground ball by senior Kevin Kopas and the ball popped out and got away.

D'Aquanno and Eberly each had two hits in the opener as the Mustangs outhit the Falcons 8-5.  Freshman Christopher Perez improved to 4-2 with his complete-game effort, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out six and walking three.

The nightcap was a pitchers' duel between Stevenson freshman James Wiercinski and Messiah's Steven Ridings.  Wiercinski retired the first 11 Falcon batters he faced before Saufley singled to left with two outs in the fourth.  Ridings improved to 5-4 as he struck out nine and tossed a complete-game three-hitter, while Wiercinski allowed just two hits and one unearned one while striking out a career-best 11 in 6.1 innings.

Messiah's lone run came in the fifth with two outs and runners on first and second.  A slow ground ball down the third base line by Austin Mellinger was thrown away trying to get Mellinger at first, allowing Kyle Wickenheiser to score.

Stevenson's best chance to score came in the third as it loaded the bases with one out.  D'Aquanno singled and Eberly walked to give runners at first and second with no out, then both moved into scoring position on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.  After a strikeout, senior Craig Joseph walked, but back-to-back swinging strikeouts left the bases loaded.

D'Aquanno extended his hit streak to six games while Joseph hit safely for the fifth consecutive game.  Senior Nick Peifer had the other Mustang hit in the nightcap.

Stevenson returns to action Tuesday afternoon when it travels to No. 17 Salisbury for a 3:30 non-conference contest.