Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University softball team suffered losses of 6-4 and 6-1 at home Saturday afternoon in its American Mideast Conference doubleheader against Point Park (PA) University. The visitors trailed 4-0 in the first game of the day before rallying back for the victory with two runs in the sixth and four more runs in the seventh. PPU then jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in game two before putting the contest out of reach with three solo homers in the latter innings. With the doubleheader sweep, Malone's record dropped to 11-14 overall and 4-2 in the AMC while Point Park improved to 14-13 overall and 4-2 in the conference.

Pitcher Brittany Larch led off the bottom of the third inning of game one with a homer to left, giving Malone the early lead. Rightfielder Brittany Stevenson made it 2-0 later in the frame with a two-out RBI single to center. Leftfielder Sarah Samblanet then added to the hosts' advantage the following inning by clubbing a two-out, two-run double to left. Point Park cut the deficit in half with a two-run homer to center by third baseman Danielle Dorunda in the top of the sixth and then pulled ahead for good in the seventh, bringing home four runs with a walk, a Malone error, two singles, and an RBI groundout. After the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the seventh, catcher Laura Ronk looked to start a Malone comeback by ripping a two-out triple to right-center. She then tried to score when the throw from the outfield sailed wide of the PPU third baseman. However, the ball took an unlucky bounce for Malone as it ricocheted off the fence that surrounds the field and back onto the diamond where Point Park first baseman Julie Campbell recovered it just in time to throw Ronk out at home, bringing the game to an end. Larch went the distance in the circle for Malone and suffered the loss (4-5) after allowing the six runs (four earned) on seven hits during her seven innings pitched. Larch helped her own cause at the plate by going 3-for-3, ripping a pair of singles to go with her third-inning home run.

Point Park took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning of the finale with a bases-loaded walk followed by back-to-back infield singles. Catcher Teresa Davis added to the lead in the top of the fourth with a solo homer to left. Malone got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning as Stevenson led off the frame with a single, stole second, moved to third on a single up the middle by Ronk and then scored on a single to right-center by shortstop Kristen Atzenhoefer. The hosts were unable to get any closer, though, as PPU tacked on solo homers in the sixth and seventh innings to cement the victory. Pitcher Shelby Snyder started and suffered the loss (1-5) after allowing four runs on five hits over the first 3.1 innings. Malone was held to five hits in the game, all singles.

Malone will look to bounce back on Monday when the squad returns to action with 3:30 p.m. non-conference doubleheader at NCAA Division III Muskingum University. Monday's games are a make-up from a March 31st rain-out.