Box Score

The Malone University baseball team suffered a 5-3 defeat to NAIA No. 23 Point Park (PA) University Wednesday morning in game two of the American Mideast Conference Postseason Tournament which was held at Mount Vernon Nazarene University's Cougar field. Point Park, seeded first in the three-team event, scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to rally back from a 3-1 deficit. After having dropped a 5-2 decision to second-seeded Mt. Vernon Nazarene in game one of the tournament on Tuesday afternoon, third-seeded Malone, now 33-22 overall, was eliminated from the event with the game two loss. Point Park improved to 37-11 overall with the come-from-behind win and will now play a best-of-three series against MVNU to determine the AMC Tournament Champion.

Point Park grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield. Malone fought back to knot the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly to right by leftfielder Sam Craciun. The Pioneers then pulled ahead 3-1 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to center by catcher T.J. Rosenberg and a two-out RBI single to right-center by designated hitter Michael Chack. Following a leadoff single in the fourth, Malone starting pitcher Jared Messer sat down 12 straight PPU batters, keeping the 3-1 advantage intact. However, Point Park's bats came alive in the eighth, plating a total of four runs on a Malone throwing error, a pair of RBI singles and a squeeze bunt. Malone put a runner on base in both the eighth and ninth innings but was unable to manufacture any additional offense, falling by the 5-3 final.

PPU reliever Mike Tullio picked up the win (6-0) after limiting Malone to three hits and no runs over the final three innings. Messer suffered the loss (6-5) after surrendering the five runs on six hits over seven innings of work. Each team tallied 11 hits in the game as shortstop Joe Goddard went 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot with three singles. Chack also made substantial contributions with a double, two singles and a stolen base. Eight different players recorded at least one base hit for Point Park.

Malone is tentatively scheduled to play a nine-inning game at NCAA Division I Kent State University on Monday at 3:00 p.m. The squad will then take part in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) East Region Tournament in the middle of the week (likely Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday depending on the number of participating teams). Locations, game times and other details regarding Malone's NCCAA postseason participation will be posted on www.malonepioneeers.com once they are available.