Bemidji State Box Score Game 1 |
Bemidji State Box Score Game 2 |
Arizona Christian Box Score
The Malone University baseball team notched three more victories on Thursday at the RussMatt Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona as the squad posted wins of 6-2 and 9-6 in its doubleheader with NCAA Division II Bemidji State (MN) University before recording a 6-2 triumph later in the day in its nine-inning game against Arizona Christian University.
With their recent triumphs in Arizona, the Pioneers eclipsed 1000 victories in program history, pushing the current Malone baseball all-time record to 1005-770-14.
The Pioneers reached win No. 1000 with their 2-0 victory over Trinity International (IL) University on Tuesday afternoon and then moved past the milestone Wednesday with a 5-0 win the first game of a doubleheader with Olivet Nazarene (IL) University.
Malone posted a 3-10-1 record during its inaugural season under head coach Richard Boileau in 1963. Of the 1005 wins, over half occurred during the remarkable 23-year career of former head coach Bob Starcher. From 1973 through 1995, the Pioneers amassed a 521-330-11 mark under Starcher's guidance while capturing numerous conference and district titles. The program has also thrived recently under current head coach Tom Crank, who, now in his eighth year, has compiled a record of 243-148. During Crank's tenure, Malone has broken the program's single-season record for wins three times, most recently in 2009 when the squad notched a 47-16 mark. Malone made its lone NAIA World Series appearance in 1973 and captured an NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Assocaition) National Title in 2006.
The Pioneers pulled out to an early 5-0 lead in Thursday's opener. A one-out double by catcher Tyler Adkins chased home two runs in the top of the first inning. Malone then added three more scores in the top of the second with a pair of two-out base hits. Designated hitter T.J. Rosenberg made it 4-0 with a two-run double and Adkins followed with an RBI single to push the Pioneer lead to five. The Beavers plated solo tallies in the bottom of the fourth and the bottom of the sixth, but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit. Right-hander Nate Morrison started and picked up the win (1-1) after limiting Bemidji State to two runs on seven hits over his six innings of work. The Pioneers posted eight hits in the contest, led by Adkins' 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
The Beavers scored two runs in each of the first two innings to grab a 4-0 lead in game two before Malone fought back to take the lead by pushing six runs across the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Seven of the Pioneers' first eight batters recorded base hits during the big inning. Designated hitter Corey Hartong got the scoring started with a three-run double. Rightfielder Marc Adams and centerfielder Sean Gorby both followed with RBI doubles. Third baseman Jimmy Cooperider then tacked on an RBI single to put Malone in front 6-4. A pair of Pioneer errors helped the Beavers bring home two runs in the top of the fifth, tying the game at 6-6. Malone managed to regain control in the bottom of the sixth, though, as pinch hitter Joe Goddard brought home the go-ahead runs on a two-out, two-run single and then later came around the score his squad's ninth run of the game on a single by first baseman Matt Anderson. Left-hander Jordan Booth picked up the win (1-0) in relief after limiting the Beavers to two unearned runs over the final 5.1 innings.
Arizona Christian scored twice in the top of the fourth inning to grab an early 2-0 lead In Thursday's nine-inning finale. However, Malone fought back to take the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Pioneers then added solo tallies in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings on a home run by Goddard, an RBI single by pinch hitter Jacob Wilson and a bases-loaded walk by centerfielder Allen Strouble. Right-hander Bryan Bayer earned the win (1-0) after allowing the two runs over the first six innings. Leftfielder Michael Chack paced the Pioneer offense by going 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI single in the fourth.
Malone will continue its spring break trip in Arizona on Friday with a 9:00 a.m. MST (11:00 a.m. EST) doubleheader against Dakota Wesleyan (SD) University.
