Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

The Malone University baseball team concluded its four-game weekend series with NAIA #8 Point Park (PA) University on Saturday by splitting a pair of games at Thurman Munson Stadium.  MU notched a 4-3 victory in the opener as designated hitter Michael Chack drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning with a single to rightfield.  PPU then staged a late rally in game two, plating three runs in the top of the seventh to register a 4-2 triumph.

After posting a combined weekend record of 3-1, Malone's overall mark stands at 16-14 on the season.  Point Park, meanwhile, now holds a record of 31-6.

MU will be back in action on Wednesday when the squad travels to Salem International (WV) University for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.

Game One Recap
A pair of two-out RBI base hits allowed Malone to grab a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third inning of the opener.  First baseman Matt Anderson got things started with a two-out walk before racing all the way home with the first run of the day on a double down the leftfield line by centerfielder Adam Heideman.  Third baseman Bob Suitca followed with an RBI single to complete the third-inning scoring.   

Point Park got on the scoreboard with a double to left-center by rightfielder Javier Marticorena in the top of the fifth.  The visitors then pulled ahead 3-2 with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the sixth.  Leftfielder Rob Novia tied the game at 2-2 with a two-out single to right.  Pinch hitter Michael Ganley then crossed the plate on a wild pitch to give PPU the lead.

A fly ball that got past the Point Park centerfielder and rolled almost all the way to the wall allowed Malone to tie things up at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth.  The hosts then won it in the bottom of the seventh.  A single by Suitca and a double by catcher T.J. Rosenberg put runners on second and third with one out.  Chack then stepped to the plate and lined a single to rightfield to give Malone the exciting, come-from-behind victory.

Reliver Nate Morrison picked up the victory (2-1) after holding Point Park scoreless over the final 1.1 innings.  Pioneer starting pitcher Alex Haines worked the first five innings, allowing one run on five hits.

Game Two Recap
Marticorena staked Point Park to a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning of the finale after driving a two-out RBI double down the leftfield line.  Following a lead-off double by leftfielder Sam Craciun in the bottom of the third, Anderson tied things with an RBI single to centerfield.  The hosts then grabbed a 2-1 advantage the following inning as a two-out RBI single by Craciun scored third baseman Frank Dufour from third. 

However, Malone was unable to manufacture any additional offense before PPU put together a two-out rally in the seventh.

MU managed to retire the first two batters of the inning, but Point Park then strung together three straight two-out base hits, tying the game on a Pioneer throwing error and then pulling ahead on a two-run single through the left side of the infield by designated hitter Marlon Leyva.

MU brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but PPU starter Nathan Spohn induced the next batter of the inning into a fielder's choice groundout, securing the 4-2 victory.

Spohn went the distance on the mound for PPU, improving to 4-0 after limiting Malone to the two runs on seven hits.  Malone pitcher Tyler Whitlach suffered the loss (1-3) following 2.1 innings of relief.  Right-hander Matt Litty started on the mound, giving up one run through the first 4.1 innings.

Craciun went 2-for-2 at the plate in the finale with one run scored and one run driven in.  Anderson also tallied two hits with one RBI.