Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University softball team lost both games of its road doubleheader at Cedarville University on Friday afternoon.  The Pioneers suffered an 8-0 defeat in the five-inning opener before dropping the back-and-forth second game by a final tally of 11-10.

Malone's overall record fell to 5-19 following Friday's contests.  The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, stretched their winning streak to seven straight games, improving to 24-11.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back on Tuesday when the squad opens a busy week of competition by traveling to Mount Vernon Nazarene University (6-15 overall) for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader against the Cougars.

Game One Recap
Malone was unable to break through against Cedarville starting pitcher Cecelia DeBartolo in the opener.  The Pioneers' best chance to score came in the fifth as Malone loaded the bases with a lead-off single by first baseman Lauren Hershberger, a double to right by catcher Jessi Crain and a one-out walk by second baseman Michelle Heacock. 

However, DeBartolo managed to hold the visitors off the scoreboard by striking out the next batter of the frame before snagging a line drive back up the middle for the third out.

The Yellow Jackets plated two runs in the first and second innings to grab a 4-0 lead.  A two-out triple by centerfielder Kelsey Wilson made the score 6-0 in the fourth.  A run-scoring single and an RBI fielder's choice then cemented the run-rule victory in the bottom of the fifth.

DeBartolo picked up her eighth win of the year (8-4) after striking out eight through her five innings of work.  A pair of doubles by shortstop Kristen Atzenhoefer accounted for two of the Pioneers' four hits in the contest.

Malone starting pitcher Shelby Snyder was saddled with the loss (3-7) after tossing the first 3.2 innings.

Game Two Recap
After being held in check during game one, the Pioneer offense exploded for 16 hits in the finale.  Cedarville scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 10-10.  The Yellow Jackets then secured the come-from-behind victory with a two-out RBI single by centerfielder Kenleigh Ludlow in the bottom of the seventh.

Cedarville led 3-1 after three innings before Malone fought back into the game with four runs in the top of the fourth.  Following a two-out Yellow Jacket error, Pioneer left-fielder Sarah Samblanet knotted the score at 3-3 with an RBI single up the middle.  Two batters later, Atzenhoefer put Malone on top 5-3 with a two-run single to left-center.

The Yellow Jackets chased home four runs in the bottom of the inning to re-gain the lead at 7-5 but the Pioneers answered in the top of the fifth, crossing the plate four more times to make the score 9-7.

Hershberger drove in two of the fifth-inning runs with a double to right-center.  Centerfielder Megan Lane also came through with an RBI single.

A two-out RBI single cut the deficit to 9-8 in the bottom of the fifth before Malone got its two-run cushion back in the top of the sixth on a Yellow Jacket fielding miscue.  However, this sixth-inning run would turn out to be the Pioneers' final score of the afternoon as the hosts charged back with the late-inning rally.

DeBartolo tossed 2.2 innings of relief to earn her second victory of the afternoon for CU.  Pitcher Nicol Chesley suffered the loss (1-8) for Malone after working 2.1 innings of relief.

Nine different Pioneers posted base hits in game two.  Atzenhoefer led the way, going 4-for-4 at the plate with four singles, a walk and three RBI's.  Hershberger, Samblanet, second baseman Desi Givens and rightfielder Katy Carr all added two hits apiece.