Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University baseball team picked up a pair of victories over Indiana Wesleyan University on Saturday during its second day of competition at the RussMatt Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona.  The Pioneers scored a combined total of 22 runs in the doubleheader, pocketing a 13-6 win in the opener and a 9-3 triumph in game two.

Malone improved to 3-1 with the sweep while Indiana Wesleyan fell to 3-6.

The Pioneer offense exploded for 18 hits in game one.  10 different Malone players recorded at least one base hit in the contest and nine different Pioneers drove in at least one run.  Malone scored in every inning, building a 9-0 advantage after four frames.  Indiana Wesleyan posted four runs in the top of the fifth and two more scores in the top of the seventh, but it was not nearly enough.

Leftfielder Sam Craciun was one of several Pioneers to record multiple base hits in the contest, going 2-for-3 with a one-run single in the second and a two-run double in the third.  Second baseman Jimmy Cooperider tallied three hits in four at-bats with a pair of doubles.  Shortstop Joe Goddard also went 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot with two runs scored.  Rightfielder Marc Adams added a triple in the second and a two-run homer in the fourth.  Right-handed pitcher Tyler Newhart picked up the win on the mound after surrendering four runs on five hits over the first five innings.

Malone's bats then picked up right where they left off in game two of the doubleheader, scoring twice in the top of the first on a two-run single by catcher Bob Suitca.  The Wildcats cut the Pioneer lead in half with an unearned run in the bottom of the first.  The score then remained unchanged until the top of the fourth when Malone took control with a five-run outburst.  Designated hitter T.J. Rosenberg delivered the big blow in the fourth with a two-out, two-run double.  IWU would add solo tallies in the bottom of the fourth and bottom of the fifth to trim the deficit to 7-3 before Malone cemented the victory by plating two more runs in the top of the seventh.

Rosenberg went 3-for-4 in the contest with three RBI's.  Suitca also drove in three runs, cranking an RBI double in the sixth to go with his two-run single in the first.  Craciun and first baseman Matt Anderson each added three hits apiece.  Right-handed starter Nate Morrison earned the win after limiting the Wildcats to three runs (one earned) on five hits through the first five innings. 

The Pioneers will have an off day in Arizona on Sunday before resuming RussMatt Inivtational play on Monday with a 10:00 a.m. MST (12:00 p.m. EST) twinbill against Northwestern (IA) College (5-3 overall).