Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University softball team tallied a 1-1 record on Saturday afternoon during its home doubleheader against Cedarville University.  The visiting Yellow Jackets scored five times in the top of the seventh to pull away for a 7-2 victory in game one.  The Pioneers then rallied for a walk-off, 5-4 triumph in the finale as freshman second baseman Desi Givens delivered a clutch game-winning double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Cedarville moved to 9-9 overall following the doubleheader split while Malone's record now stands at 2-11.

The Pioneers will be back in action at Pioneer Field on Monday with a 3:30 p.m. home doubleheader against the University of Mount Union (7-9 overall).

Game One Recap
The Yellow Jackets grabbed an early 1-0 advantage in the opener after scoring on a Pioneer error in top of the third inning.  Malone centerfielder Megan Lane answered back in the bottom of the frame, knotting the game at 1-1 after cranking a solo homer over the fence in left-centerfield. 

Cedarville catcher Kelsey Warrington duplicated Lane's feat in the top of the fourth, ripping a solo homer to left to put her squad on top 2-1.  The score then remained unchanged until the bottom of the sixth when Lane struck again, tying things up at 2-2 with a lead-off home run to center.

The Yellow Jackets then put five runs on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh.  A Pioneer error and five Cedarville base hits helped the visitors put the contest out of reach.

Pitcher Shelby Snyder started and took the loss (0-5) after surrendering the seven runs (six earned) on nine hits through the first 6.1 innings.  Yellow Jacket reliever Courtnie Spain earned the win (5-1) with two scoreless innings of relief.

Lane was responsible for three of the Pioneers' five base hits in the contest, registering a one-out single in the bottom of the first to go with her two homers.

Game Two Recap
Givens staked Malone to an early 3-0 advantage in Saturday's finale after she cleared the bases in the bottom of the third inning with a two-out , three-run double.  Cedarville answered right back, though, tying things up with three runs in the top of the fourth. 

An errant Pioneer throw then helped the Yellow Jackets pull ahead 4-3 in the top of the fifth.  However, Malone managed to avoid the doubleheader sweep by staging a rally in the bottom of the seventh.

First baseman Lauren Hershberger led off the frame with a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by rightfielder Katy Carr.  Cedarville got the next batter of the inning to pop out to the catcher before shortstop Kristen Atzenhoefer punched a single through the right side of the infield, moving Hershberger to third.  With the tying run on third and the winning run on first., Givens stepped to the plate and ripped a double to the fence in left, lifting the Pioneers to the thrilling walk-off win.

Givens drove in all five of Malone's game two runs.  The freshman belted a lead-off single in the bottom of the second to go with her two crucial RBI doubles, ending the contest with three hits in four at-bats.

Starting pitcher Stephanie Byrne went the distance for Malone, picking up her first collegiate victory (1-2) after limiting the Yellow Jackets to the four runs (one earned) on eight hits over her seven innings of work.