Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University softball team tallied a 1-1 record on Monday afternoon in a pair of non-conference games at the University of Rio Grande. The Pioneers took advantage of eight Red Storm errors in the opener, recording a 6-2 victory. Rio Grande then hung on for an 8-7 victory in the finale as a late-inning Malone rally fell just short. Following Monday's action, the Pioneers' overall record moved to 4-7 while Rio Grande is now 5-5.

All six of the Pioneers' runs were unearned in game one as the Red Storm struggled with several fielding miscues. An RBI groundout by shortstop Kristen Atzenhoefer broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the fifth. Three straight Rio Grande errors then helped Malone tack on three more runs in the sixth. Pitcher Brittany Larch went the distance for the Pioneers, improving her record to 2-1 on the season after limiting the hosts to two runs on five hits. Larch struck out nine and walked just one over her seven innings of work. Centerfielder Elizabeth Sarkissian led the way for the Malone offense by going 2-for-5 at the plate with a stolen base and three runs scored.

The Red Storm held a 5-1 lead in game two before the Pioneers fought back to tie the game with four runs in the top of the sixth. Atzenhoefer got the big inning started with a two-run triple and then trotted home with the third run of the inning on a single by catcher Laura Ronk. Designated hitter Kelsee Locker followed with a double to plate Ronk and knot the game 5-5. However, Rio Grande quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a bases-loaded double that brought home three runs. Malone scored two unearned runs in the top of the seventh but the Red Storm managed to hang on for the win after inducing a groundout with two outs and the tying run on second base. Pitcher Shelby Snyder suffered the loss (0-3) after allowing eight runs (five earned) on 14 hits over her six innings of work. Atzenhoefer finished a double shy of the cycle as she ripped a solo homer in the top of the second and a single in the top of the fourth to go with her sixth-inning triple.

Malone was originally scheduled to travel the University of Findlay for a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon, but those games were postponed due to poor field conditions. The Pioneers will return to action on Friday with a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader at Wittenberg University (2-9 overall).