Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Malone University softball team (6-6, 0-2 GLIAC) opened up GLIAC play with a pair of losses to NCAA Division II #17 Grand Valley State (MI) University (12-2, 2-0 GLIAC) on Saturday. The games were moved from Canton to Brookside Park in Ashland, Ohio due to bad field conditions at Malone.

Malone's bats were silenced in game one by Grand Valley State's Hannah Santora. The righty tossed seven innings of scorelees three-hit hit ball while racking up 10 strikeouts. Senior Shelby Snyder was Santora's nemesis in the circle. She fought hard all game long, battling out of numerous jams, including a bases-loaded, no-out situation that yielded no runs for Grand Valley State in the top of the first inning. Unfortuantely, she failed to receive any run support and Malone fell 8-0. Snyder fell to 3-3 on the season with her final stat line showing seven innings, 12 hits and eight runs, although only two of the eight were earned.

Freshman Karissa Melgoza made the play of the day with a jaw-dropping, home-run saving catch off of a drive from Grand Valley State's Katie Martin. Melgoza raced to the centerfield fence, reached over and snared the ball to prevent a two-run homer. Freshmen Marionna Cane, Emily Isla and Amy Donze recorded the hits for the Pioneers.

Malone put a big time scare into the nationally ranked Lakers in game 2. Grand Valley State raced out to a quick 9-0 lead after three innings. However, Malone used a six-run top of the fourth to pull right back into the game. The Pioneers scored six runs on just two hits in the inning but were aided by five free bases. Cane and Melgoza each hit run-scoring doubles in the inning.

The Pioneers would head into the top of the seventh trailing 10-6 but opened the inning with four consecutive hits from Melgoza, Isla, Donze and freshman Carly Holcomb to make the score 10-8 with the tying run on first base and no outs. Sophomore Stephanie Byrne hit a rocket in the next at-bat right at the Lakers' third baseman for the first out. The following hitter, Heather Papp, appeared to have driven in another run moments later, but her blooper down the left field line landed inches foul. The game would end with strikeouts to Papp and junior Katy Carr.

Donze (1-3) took the loss in game 2, hurling six innings and giving up 10 runs (six earned) on eleven hits and eight walks. Melgoza led the Pioneers with two hits, both doubles.

Malone's games against Ferris State (M() University, tomorrow, March 24 have been moved back to Malone University. First pitch of game 1 of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.