Game One Box Score  |  Game Two Box Score

The Malone University softball team suffered a pair of losses on Tuesday afternoon during its home opener against NCAA Division II University of Charleston (WV).  The Golden Eagles plated six runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull away for a 9-1 run-rule victory in game one.  Charleston then used two home runs to secure a hard-fought 3-1 triumph in the finale.

The Golden Eagles improved to 10-8 with the doubleheader sweep while the Pioneers fell to 1-8.

Malone will be back in action on Wednesday with a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader at Muskingum University (4-6 overall).  Originally, the Muskingum games had been scheduled for Thursday but were moved up due to Wednesday's favorable weather forecast. 

Game One Recap
Charleston starting pitcher Emily Fultz tossed six solid innings in the opener, running her record to 7-3 on the year after surrendering one run on two hits while striking out eight.  The Golden Eagles grabbed the early lead with an unearned run in the top of the second.  Charleston first baseman Angel Withrow made the score 3-0 in the top of the fourth by ripping a two-run homer to center and the Golden Eagles then took command with their big six-run outburst in the top of the sixth.  Catcher Aspen Echelmeier delivered the big blow with two outs, driving in three runs with a bases-loaded double.

Designated player Michelle Heacock got the Pioneers on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth, crossing the plate on a two-out single by centerfielder Megan Lane.  However, Fultz managed to cement the run-rule victory by getting the next batter of the inning to ground into a fielder's choice.

The Pioneers' other game-one hit came in the second inning on a lead-off double to right-center by shortstop Kristen Atzenhoefer.

Malone starting pitcher Shelby Snyder suffered the loss (0-4) after surrendering six runs (five earned) through the first 5.2 innings.

Game Two Recap
Charleston leftfielder Logan Tretick got things started right away for the visitors in game two, leading off the top of the first inning with a homerun to right-centerfield.  Heacock evened things up in the third after leading off the frame with a triple to rightfield and then coming home to score later in the inning on an infield single by Lane. 

The score remained knotted at 1-1 until the top of the fifth when Withrow delivered her second homer of the afternoon, this time a two-run shot to left-centerfield that put the Golden Eagles on top 3-1. 

After rightfielder Katy Carr led off the bottom of the inning with an infield single, Fultz entered the game in relief.  Lane's sacrifice bunt moved Carr to second.  Malone then loaded the bases with a walk by leftfielder Sarah Samblanet and a single to center by Atzenheofer.  However, Fultz managed to escape to jam with a pair of strikeouts.  The freshman from Germantown, Ohio then proceeded to retire Malone in order in both the sixth and seventh innings to preserve the victory and earn her first save of the season.

Malone pitcher Stephanie Byrne tossed a complete game for the hosts, dropping to 0-1 on the year despite surrendering just the three runs on five hits.

The Pioneers posted seven hits in the contest, led by Carr's 2-for-4 performance from the lead-off spot.