Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University baseball team tallied one win and one loss on Saturday during its home doubleheader against Urbana University at Thurman Munson Stadium.  After a nearly three-hour rain delay, the Pioneers pocketed a 9-1 victory in the opener.  A late Malone rally then fell short in game two as the visiting Blue Knights held on for a 3-2 triumph.

Following the doubleheader split, the Pioneers' record moved to 25-17.  Urbana, meanwhile, now holds an overall mark of 17-22.

Malone will have a week off for final exams and then will return to action on Tuesday, May 1st with a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader at Cedarville University (29-9 overall).

Game One Recap
The Pioneers grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the second inning of the opener on a two-out RBI single by leftfielder Sam Craciun.  Malone then tacked on two more runs in the third.  Shortstop Joe Goddard led off the frame with a double to left before coming around to score on a double to right-center by first baseman Matt Anderson.  Two batters later, catcher T.J. Rosenberg came through with a single to right, plating Anderson to make the score 3-0.

Malone then put the contest out of reach with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth.  Designated hitter Michael Chack got the scoring started with an RBI single to left.  After a walk loaded the bases, Rosenberg then delivered a two-run single to center to make the score 6-0.  Second baseman Logan Gray followed with a two-run triple to right before crossing the plate later in the frame on a wild pitch.

The Blue Knights loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh, but managed to bring home just one run before reliever Jesse Coblentz came on to record the final two outs of the contest.

Malone starting pitcher Tyler Whitlach picked up his second collegiate victory (2-4) after tossing the first 6.1 innings.  The freshman worked around eight walks, surrendering just three hits (only one hit through the first six innings) while striking out five.

Rosenberg led the way for the Pioneer offense in game one, going 3-for-3 with one run scored and three runs driven in.  Anderson added two hits in four at-bats with one RBI and two runs scored.

Game Two Recap
Just like in the opener, Malone grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning of game two - this time on a two-out RBI single by designated hitter Tyler Adkins.

Urbana answered in the top of the third, tying things up with back-to-back, two-out base hits.  The Blue Knights then took the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring solo runs on an RBI fielder's choice by rightfielder Kyle England and on a two-out RBI single to left by centerfielder Aaron Bingham. 

The Pioneers pushed one run across the plate in the bottom of the seventh as third baseman Bob Suitca led off the inning with a double to right, moved to third on groundout and then touched home on a single to right by Gray.  A bloop single by Adkins then chased Urbana starting pitcher Tom Piatt from the game. 

With one out and runners on first and second, the Blue Knights turned to reliever Josh Gratsch.  The junior right-hander struck out the next batter of the inning before a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third.  However, Gratsch managed to induce a fly-out in foul territory to escape the jam and preserve Urbana's one-run victory.

Piatt earned the win (4-2) for the Blue Knights while Gratsch picked up his third save of the year.  Malone freshman starter Matt Litty took the loss (2-1) despite allowing just the three runs on seven hits through the first 5.2 innings.

Suitca went 3-for-3 at the plate in the finale with two runs scored and a pair of doubles.  Adkins added a pair of singles in three at-bats.