TUCSON, Ariz.  – Freshman righty Sarah Byrnes (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) mowed through the No. 18 Messiah Falcons (4-5) with a two-hit complete game as WP triumphed 3-1 in the day's opening game, although No. 24 Babson (3-3) was too much in the final contest in Tucson, as WP (2-4) fell 16-4 Mar. 4
 
Game One: WP 3, No. 18 Messiah 1
 
Byrnes allowed only a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth and a harmless one-out single in the seventh as she pitched WP on to its second victory over a ranked opponent in as many games. The rookie righty didn't permit a free pass and fanned three, generating 12 outs on the ground.
 
The Pioneers were opportunistic with their scoring, plating a run in the first, second and seventh inning. The early 1-0 advantage was grasped after senior center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) walked, Byrnes stroked a single to center and junior third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) poked a ball to Messiah freshman first baseman Isabel Seise who mishandled the play, bringing Lutas around from second.
 
Freshman shortstop Sydney Pace (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) gave herself a three-game hitting streak with a leadoff single to begin the second frame. The Kearny, N.J., native then swiped second, was bunted to third by sophomore first baseman Susan Mather (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) and brought home by sophomore left fielder Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills)'s sacrifice fly.
 
Senior hurler Carrie Fix provided Messiah's lone run with a homer in the bottom of the fourth, although Griffith's RBI single to drive in Lutas in the top of the seventh provided some breathing room for Byrnes and the Pioneers heading into the bottom half of the inning.
 
Lutas and senior designated player Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) both roped triples, and sophomore right fielder Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) stole a base and collected a single.
 
Seise was the only other Falcon to provide a hit, as Fix (2-1) provided a complete-game effort despite taking the loss, fanning five while allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits and a pair of base on balls.
 
Game Two: No. 24 Babson 16, WP 4 (five innings)
 
The Pioneers were in reach of No. 24 Babson, trailing just 7-3 heading into the top of the fourth, but a nine-run fourth frame put things away as WP fell in five innings.
 
Babson jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening half of the first, using four singles and an RBI double off the bat of freshman right fielder Jamie Hoffman, but WP garnered some momentum of its own with three in the bottom of the first. Byrnes' RBI groundout scored Tighe, Lutas scored as senior second baseman Adelle Hickman (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty)'s batted ball resulted in an error by Babson's third baseman and Griffith brought Hickman home with a triple.
 
Junior center fielder Josephine Mares ignited another rally for the Beavers, leading off the second with a single before stealing second and scoring on an RBI single from junior catcher Annie Quine. Quine later scored on an RBI single coming from sophomore first baseman Jacqueline Paul.
 
One more run in the third and a nine-run fourth caused by eight hits and a walk forged the 16-3 lead for Babson going into the bottom of the fourth.
 
Junior shortstop Karley Jo Greulich (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) led off WP's fourth with a base knock and eventually came around on an error committed by Babson's sophomore left fielder Victoria Casey, misplaying a ball of Tighe's bat, bringing it to 16-4.
 
The Pioneers generated six hits, with RBI coming from Griffith and Byrnes. Freshman pitchers Caitlin Brennan (Boonton, N.J./Parsippany) and Alexis Davidson (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) both reached base once.
 
Five Babson players had multi-hit days, led by Paul's 3-for-4 day with four RBI and two runs scored. Quine and Mares combined to go 6-for-8 with six runs.
 
Sophomore righty Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Conception) (0-2) took the loss, lasting 2.2 innings, fanning two while allowing six runs, three earned. Davidson and Brenna spun a combined 2.0 frames in relief.
 
Earning the win was senior Ali Reily, allowing four runs, one earned, while fanning two in 5.0 innings.
 
Next time the Pioneers suit up they will be in Florida, playing in the Sunkissed Games in Kissimmee, Fla. from Mar. 11-17. They'll begin the 10-game trip by taking on Washington College (Md.) at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Mar. 11 before battling Wheaton College (Mass.) later that day at 11:15 a.m.
 
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