GRANTHAM, Pa. – Messiah used a four-run fifth inning to win Friday's opening game in the NCAA Super Regional by a 4-1 score. Rachel Wolfson provided the Fords' offense with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Haverford also brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the top of the seventh before the Falcons secured the final out.

Haverford will need to win the next two games in the best-of-three series to advance to the NCAA Division III College World Series. The second game in this Super Regional series is scheduled for Saturday at 12 p.m. with game three to follow if it is needed. With rain in the weekend forecast, be sure to check back with HaverfordAthletics.com for any schedule updates.

Haverford had chances to take the lead early as Wolfson started the game with a leadoff walk and was bunted into scoring position. However, she was stranded after a fly out to left field. Julia Blake started the fourth inning with a single and was moved over to third before the final out was made on a hot shot back at the pitcher off the bat of Jessica Koshinski.

Sara Tauriello got the start for the Fords and was strong in the opening innings as she allowed just one hit over the first two innings, while striking out three. The Falcons got a pair of one-out singles to help load the bases in the bottom of the third, but a strikeout looking from Tauriello and ground out to second base kept the game scoreless.

Tauriello set the Messiah order down in succession for the first time all afternoon in the fourth with the help of two strikeouts in the frame. Three singles from Messiah and a defensive miscue broke the scoreless game in the bottom of the fifth. However, the big blow came on a bases loaded triple that made the score 4-0.

Haverford answered back with a solo home run from Wolfson to start the sixth inning. Wolfson's home run was her third of the season. The Fords brought the go-ahead run to the plate following a leadoff single from Koshinski and back-to-back two-out walks from Alex Craig and pinch hitter Emily Gorman. However, the Falcons secured the win on a line drive out to right field.