Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University baseball team swept both games of its home doubleheader against Notre Dame College on Friday afternoon after receiving a pair of strong outings from junior starting pitchers Jared Messer and Alex Haines.  Messer tossed a complete game in the opener, propelling the Pioneers to a 2-1 victory after limiting the Falcons to four hits and one unearned run.  Haines then worked six solid innings in game two as Malone scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to rally for a 4-3 triumph.

Following Friday's pair of one-run victories, the Pioneers have now won 13 out of their last 14 games to improve to 20-14 overall.  Notre Dame, meanwhile, slipped to 12-23-1.

The two squads are scheduled to be back in action on Saturday when they wrap up their four-game weekend series with a *1:00 p.m.* doubleheader at Pipeyard Stadium in Lorain, Ohio.  The Notre Dame Sports Information Department will provide live audio and statistics for each of Saturday's contests.  Click here for links to each.

*Please note: Due the threat of rain showers, the start time for Saturday's twinbill could be bumped up to 12:00 p.m. or 12:30 p.m.  If a change in start time does occur, it will be posted on www.malonepioneers.com as quickly as possible*

Game One Recap
Notre Dame's lone run in the opener came in the top of the fourth as shortstop Mike Ferguson reached on a throwing error and then later came home to score on a two-out RBI single to centerfield by third baseman Shane DeFranco.

Malone, held hitless through the first three innings, managed to break through against NDC starter Simon Davis in the bottom of the fourth, pushing two runs across the plate.  After the first two batters of the frame were retired, catcher T.J. Rosenberg lined a single up the middle.  A double down the leftfield line by second baseman Logan Gray followed, putting runners on second and third.  Designated hitter Tyler Adkins then stepped to the plate and delivered the biggest hit of the game - a single to center that scored both runners.

These two fourth-inning runs would turn out to be all the offense Messer would need.  The Falcons threatened in the top of the seventh when a two-out single and a Malone fielding error put runners at the corners.  However, Messer cemented the Pioneer win after getting the next NDC batter to strike out looking.

In his sixth complete-game effort of the season, Messer struck out six without walking a batter.  The junior right-hander gave up a total of just four hits and the one unearned run in the contest, running his record to 7-1 on the year while lowering his earned run average to a microscopic 0.87.

Davis was the tough-luck loser for Notre Dame, falling to 2-4 on the season despite allowing just the two runs on three hits over six innings pitched.

Game Two Recap
The strong pitching continued in Friday's second game for both teams.  An RBI double by third baseman Bob Suitca in the bottom of the fourth followed by another RBI double by first baseman Matt Anderson in the bottom of the fifth gave the Pioneers a 2-0 advantage. 

After being held in check by Haines through the first five innings, the Falcons managed to put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth by stringing together three consecutive two-out base hits.  Rightfielder Jesse Bartle made it 2-1 with an infield single before centerfielder Bryan Pyper clubbed a two-run double to left, putting NDC on top 3-2.

Malone answered right back in the bottom of the inning, though.  Suitca led off the frame with a single to center, moved to third on a single to rightfield by Rosenberg and then raced home with the tying run when the throw in from the outfield bounced away from the Falcons' cut-off man.

A sacrifice bunt by Gray and groundout by designated hitter Michael Chack moved Rosenberg to third.  Rightfielder Marc Adams then plated the go-ahead run with a clutch, two-out RBI single up the middle.

Just like in the opener, Notre Dame threatened in its final at-bat, putting runners on first and second with back-to-back two-out singles.  However, Pioneer reliever Nate Morrison, who entered the game at the start of the seventh, induced the next Falcon batter into a groundout to preserve the victory and pick up his fourth save of the season.

Haines earned the win (2-3) after limiting the Falcons to the three runs on six hits through the first six innings.

Suitca tallied two of the Pioneers' seven hits in the finale, going 2-for-3 at the plate with one run scored and one run driven in.