Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University softball team suffered a pair of hard-fought defeats on Wednesday afternoon in its road doubleheader at Muskingum University.  The Muskies pocketed a 5-3 triumph in the opener and then rallied back from a 5-2 deficit to record a 7-6 victory in game two.

The Pioneers' overall record slipped to 1-10 following Wednesday's defeats while Muskingum improved to 6-6.

Malone will return to action on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. home doubleheader against Cedarville University (8-8 overall).

Game One Recap
A two-out RBI double by second baseman Desi Givens gave the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead in the opener.  With the help of a two-run homer by Muskingum centerfielder Kristyn Heagan, the hosts answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning.  

Pioneer shortstop Kristen Atzenhoefer crossed the plate to make the score 4-2 in the top of the fifth after leading off the frame with a double and then coming home to score later in the inning on a Muskie error.  The hosts got the run back the following inning, though, pushing their lead to 5-2 with a one-out RBI single.

Atzenhoefer, Malone's career home run and RBI leader, then delivered again in the top of the seventh, driving a two-out solo homer over the fence in left.  However, the Pioneers were unable to muster any additional offense, falling by the 5-3 final.

Pitcher Stephanie Byrne started and took the loss (0-2) after giving up four runs (two earned) through the first 0.2 innings.  Starter Brittany Folk tossed the first five innings to pick up the win (2-2) for the Muskies.  Reliever Ashley Price then picked up her first save of the season after recording the final six outs.

Game Two Recap
Much like in the opener, the Pioneers jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning of game two.  First baseman Lauren Hershberger led off the game with a double to left-center and then later came around to score on an Atzenhoefer triple down the leftfield line.

The Muskies once again responded in the bottom of the first, tying things up with back-to-back RBI singles.  The score then remained deadlocked at 2-2 until Malone plated three runs in the top of the fourth to grab a 5-2 advantage.  Pitcher Shelby Snyder got things started by drawing a bases-loaded walk and Hershberger then came through with two outs, ripping a two-run single down the leftfield line.

Muskingum cut the deficit to 5-4 with a pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the fifth and then took advantage of a solo homer and two Malone errors in the sixth, plating three more runs to pull in front 7-5. 

Following back-to-back one-out singles in the top of the seventh by Givens and leftfielder Sarah Samblanet, centerfielder Megan Lane trimmed the margin to 7-6 by smacking an RBI double to leftcenter.  However, with runners on second and third, Price managed to retire the next two Malone batters of the inning to preserve the narrow victory.

Snyder worked the first four innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits.  Reliever Nicol Chesley was saddled with the loss (1-4) after surrendering the go-ahead runs in the sixth.  Price, meanwhile, picked up the win (2-0) after tossing the final three innings in relief for the Muskies.

Givens and Hershberger each went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Malone offense in game two.