Game One Box Score |
Game Two Box Score
The Malone University baseball team continued play at the RussMatt Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday by dropping both games of a high-scoring doubleheader with Northwestern (IA) College. The Red Raiders hung on for a 13-11 victory in the opener and then rallied for a walk-off 11-10 win in game two after plating three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Pioneers' overall record dipped to 5-9 following Friday's tough defeats while Northwestern improved to 9-7.
Malone committed a total of seven errors in game one, leading to 11 unearned runs. The Red Raiders jumped out to an early 9-2 advantage before the Pioneers managed to fight back into the contest by plating three runs apiece in both the fourth and fifth innings. Northwestern quickly responded, though, scoring three times in the sixth and once in the top of the seventh to make the score 13-8. Malone loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh and proceeded to chip away at the deficit, scoring solo runs on a sacrifice fly by third baseman
Bob Suitca and back-to-back RBI singles by centerfielder
Adam Heideman and rightfielder
Marc Adams. However, the Pioneers were unable to complete the comeback as Red Raider reliever Eddie Pantzlaff extinguished the Malone rally by inducing a double-play ground ball.
The Pioneers racked up 19 hits in the contest, led by second baseman
Logan Gray, who posted four singles in five at-bats. Heideman went 3-for-5 at the plate, ripping a two-out, two-run single in the third inning to go with his RBI single in the seventh. Adams and catcher
T.J. Rosenberg also posted three hits apiece in Friday's opener.
Northwestern brought home four runs in the bottom of the third inning to grab an early 7-3 advantage in game two. Malone cut the lead to 7-4 in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by shortstop
Joe Goddard. The Pioneers then took advantge of three Red Raider errors in the top of the sixth, scoring five times to pull in front 9-7. Northwestern scored once in the bottom of the sixth to make it 9-8, but Malone got the run right back in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI singley by first baseman
Michael Chack.
The Pioneers were unable to record an out in the bottom of the seventh. The Red Raiders loaded the bases with a walk and two singles. Another walk followed by two more base hits brought home the tying and winning runs.
Malone totaled 13 base hits in the second game of the day. Chack paced the Pioneer offense, going 4-for-5 with RBI singles in the third, sixth and seventh innings. Adams also registered four hits with a triple and three runs scored.
Malone will wrap up its spring-break trip on Saturday with a single game against NCAA Division III Macalester (MN) College, starting at 9:00 a.m. MST (11:00 a.m. EST).
