Box Score

The Malone University baseball team suffered a 24-11 road loss to NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University on Wednesday afternoon.  The Pioneers scored twice in the top of the fourth to grab a 6-4 lead before the Falcons took command of the contest with a huge 14-run outburst in the bottom of the inning.  Malone's overall record slipped to 6-10 with the high-scoring defeat while BGSU improved to 5-11.

In addition to the combined total of 35 runs scored, the nine-inning game also featured 40 base hits, 11 of which went for extra bases. 

Pioneer third baseman Bob Suitca staked the Pioneers to an early 2-0 lead after delivering a two-run double in the top of the first inning.  First baseman T.J. Losby answered back for the Falcons in the bottom of the inning by driving a three-run homer over the leftfield fence. 

After BGSU added a solo run in the bottom of the second to make the score 4-2, Suitca knotted the contest at 4-4 in the top of the third with a two-run homer down the rightfield line.  The Pioneers then plated two more runs in the top of the fourth, the first coming on a solo homer by centerfielder Adam Heideman and the second on a two-out RBI single by first baseman Matt Anderson.

The Falcons then sent 19 batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning, the first nine reaching on base hits.  In all, BGSU racked up 15 of its school-record 30 base hits in the bottom of the fourth. 

Facing an 18-6 deficit, Malone did not surrender.  The Pioneers plated single runs in the fith and sixth innings before crossing the plate three times in the top of ninth.  However, BGSU remained locked in at the plate, tacking on three runs apiece in both the sixth and eighth innings to keep its sizable lead intact.

Suitca paced the Pioneer offense, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four runs batted in.  Anderson also registered two hits with one run scored.

Bowling Green State centerfielder Jake Thomas had a huge day from the leadoff spot, piling up a school-record six base hits in seven at-bats.  Shortstop Brandon Howard went 5-for-6 with four RBI's.  Rightfielder Alex Davidson also drove in four runs with an RBI groundout in the fourth and a three-run homer in the sixth.

Right-handed starting pitcher Tyler Newhart suffered the loss (1-1) after working the first three innings for Malone.  Left-hander Kevin Delapaz picked up the win (1-0) in relief for BGSU.

Malone will look to bounce back on Saturday when the squad travels to Ashland University for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against the NCAA Division II Eagles (6-5 overall).