Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University baseball team tallied a 1-1 record on Wednesday afternoon during its home opener against NCAA Division II Salem International (WV) University.  The Pioneers registered a 6-4 victory in the opener of the doubleheader before falling by a 7-3 final in game two.  Each team used a six-run inning to help secure its respective win as Malone put six runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning of game one while the visiting Tigers took command of the finale by crossing the plate six times in the top of the fourth.

The Pioneers moved to 7-13 overall following Wednesday's action while Salem International's record now stands at 3-22.

Malone will be back in action at Thurman Munson Stadium on Friday with a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader against Notre Dame College (8-11-1 overall).

Game One Recap
Some timely hitting and three Salem International errors helped the Pioneers grab a 6-0 advantage in the bottom of the second inning of game one.  All six runs scored after two outs were recorded.  Rightfilder Marc Adams and leftfielder Sam Craciun got things started with RBI singles.  Following a hit by pitch and a walk, designated hitter Michael Chack came through with a two-run single.  Catcher T.J. Rosenberg, who opened the frame with a one-out double, then drove in the Pioneers' final run with a bases-loaded walk.

The Tigers cut the deficit in half with three runs in the top of the third and then loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth.  Reliever Nate Morrison then entered the game and managed to limit the damage, allowing one run to score on a wild pitch before striking out a pair of SIU batters to end the threat. 

After working around trouble in the fifth, Morrison held the Tigers off the scoreboard in both the sixth and seventh innings to cement the victory and earn his first save of the season.  Right-hander Tyler Newhart started on the mound and picked up his second win of the year (2-1) after giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits through the first 4.1 innings.

First baseman Matt Anderson posted two hits in three at-bats with one run scored.  Chack also registered two base hits, smacking a fourth-inning single to go with his two-run single in the second.

Game Two Recap
Salem International grabbed the early lead in game two with a run in the top of the second inning.  The Tigers then took command with their six-run outburst in the fourth.  Patience at the plate paid off for SIU as the visitors drew a total of six walks in the frame.  After Salem International pushed its advantage to 4-0 by scoring on a pair of wild pitches and a bases-loaded walk, Tiger designated hitter Elliott Swiatly delivered the big blow, cranking a two-out, bases-loaded double to make the score 7-0.

Malone got two runs back in the bottom of the inning as second baseman Logan Gray clubbed an RBI double into the left-centerfield gap and then came home to scoe on a sacrifice fly by Adams.  Gray then made it 7-3 in the sixth, leading off the inning with a single to left before later crossing the plate on a two-out RBI single to rightfield by shortstop Joe Goddard.  Malone was unable to manufacture any additional offense, though, falling by the 7-3 final.

Left-handed starting pitcher Tyler Whitlach suffered the loss (0-2) after giving up six runs through the first 3.2 innings.  Myles Swartz earned the win (2-5) for Salem International, allowing two runs through the first five innings.

Goddard paced the Pioneer lineup by going 3-for-4 at the plate from the leadoff spot.  Gray was 2-for-2 with two runs scored while centerfielder Adam Heideman added a pair of singles in three at-bats.