Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University baseball team began American Mideast Conference play at Thurman Munson Stadium on Friday afternoon with two tough defeats in its home doubleheader against Point Park (PA) University. PPU registered a 5-3 victory in game one and an 8-4 triumph in game two, marking the first time since April of 2004 that Point Park had swept a doubleheader from Malone. Point Park improved its record to 20-4 overall and 2-0 in the AMC with Friday's outcome while Malone dropped to 19-12 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

The visitors pulled out to an early 3-0 lead in the opener thanks to a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the second by PPU shortstop Dillon Sauers and a bases loaded walk in the top of the third by designated hitter Zach O'Neal. Malone cut into the deficit with solo tallies in both the fourth and fifth innings. Centerfielder Allen Strouble chased home the first run with a one-out double down the rightfield line. Third baseman Bob Suitca then made it 3-2 the following inning with a one-out single to center. Point Park managed to get both runs back in the top of the sixth, though, pushing its lead to 5-2. A walk, an error and a double steal put runners at second and third with one out. Sauers brought home the first score of the frame with a single to right and PPU centerfielder Brian Grise followed with a sacrifice fly to center to extend the lead to three. Malone made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh after plating one run and then putting the tying runs on base with two outs. Suitca got things started with a two-out triple to right-center. Following a walk by designated hitter Corey Hartong, Suitca then trotted home on a single to right by catcher T.J. Rosenberg. However, the hosts were unable to complete the rally as Point Park pitcher Sean Clark entered the game and induced a fly out to center to preserve the 5-3 win and notch his first save of the season. PPU starting pitcher Derek Peluso picked up the win (5-0) after scattering 10 hits over the first 6.2 innings. Malone starting pitcher Jeff Shenker took the loss (1-2) after surrendering three runs on five hits during his five innings of work. Malone out-hit Point Park 10-6 but the visitors kept the base paths busy by drawing a total of nine walks. Suitca paced the hosts' offense by going 3-for-4 with one run scored and one run batted in. Strouble added two doubles in three at-bats.

PPU cashed in on four Malone errors in game two. Point Park first baseman Lee Bodnar staked his squad to a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI double to left-center in the top of the third. Back-to-back two-out errors then allowed PPU to tack on five unearned runs the following inning. Bodnar delivered the big blow by blasting a two-out grand slam over the leftfield fence. Malone cut the deficit to 6-3 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth but two more errors in the top of the seventh allowed PPU to chase home two more runs. Malone trimmed the margin to 8-4 on a two-out RBI single by Rosenberg in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough to overcome Point Park's big lead. PPU starting pitcher Ryan Loutsenhizer went the distance on the mound, scattering eight hits over his seven innings to improve his record to 5-0 on the season. Malone starter Tyler Newhart took the loss (4-1) despite allowing just one earned run (seven unearned) over the first six innings. Malone tallied eight hits in contest as leftfielder Sam Craciun went 2-for-3 from the leadoff spot with two runs scored.

Malone will look to bounce back on Saturday when it travels to Green Tree Park in Pittsburgh for two more games against PPU. The first pitch of the AMC doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m.  Point Park will provide live audio and stats for each game.