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Bob Suitca 2011 action vs Walsh - 2

Baseball

Pioneers Fall 9-3 In Final Game Of Weekend Series With Grand Valley State

Third baseman Bob Suitca went 1-for-4 with a sacrifice fly during Sunday's contest.

Box Score

The Malone University baseball team wrapped up its three-game weekend series with Grand Valley State (MI) University on Sunday at a chilly Thurman Munson Stadium, falling by a final score of 9-3.

The Lakers (9-7 overall, 3-0 GLIAC) scored twice in the top of the first inning and once more in the top of the second to grab an early 3-0 advantage.  The Pioneers (7-9 overall, 0-3 GLIAC) got one run back in the bottom of the second when rightfielder Michael Chack drew a bases-loaded walk.

The score then remained at 3-1 until the top of the fourth when GVSU struck for four more runs.  The frame started with back-to-back Pioneer fielding miscues on a pair of Laker bunt attempts.  Grand Valley State then capitalized on the Malone errors later in the frame as shortstop Stuart Eisler delivered a two-run double followed by a two-run single to left by centerfielder Mike Nadratowski.

GVSU tacked on solo scores in the top of the sixth and top of the seventh to increase its advantage to 9-1.  Malone would get one run back in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out RBI double by shortstop Jon Crank and another run in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Bob Suitca.  The Pioneers were unable to get any closer, though, as Grand Valley State retired the final batter of the ninth inning on a called third strike, cementing the three-game weekend sweep.

Chris Ward started on the mound for the Lakers and tossed the first 2.1 innings, yielding one run.  Sean Clancy then came on and worked 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn his second victory of the season (2-2).  Tyler Whitlach pitched the first five frames for Malone, suffering his first loss of the year (2-1) after surrendering seven runs (four earned) on seven hits.

Nadratowski posted three of the Lakers' 11 hits on the afternoon with two runs scored , two steals and three RBI's.  Designated hitter Matt Davis tallied two base hits to pace the Malone line-up.

Weather permitting, the Pioneers are scheduled to host rival Walsh University (7-6 overall, 1-2 GLIAC) on Tuesday afternoon in a 12:00 p.m. GLIAC doubleheader.
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