Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Malone University baseball team tallied a 1-1 record in its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against local rival Walsh University at Thurman Munson Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.  The Pioneers took the opener 6-1 behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Taylore Baker.  Malone's seventh-inning rally then fell just short in game two as the Cavaliers held on for a narrow 6-5 victory.

Malone's record moved to 8-10 overall and 1-4 in the GLIAC following Wednesday's action while Walsh's mark now stands at 8-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

The two squads will wrap up their three-game series on Thursday at Walsh with a single, nine-inning contest that is slated to start at 3:30 p.m.  The Cavaliers' sports information department will provide live audio and live stats during the game.

Game One Recap
Baker led the way for the Pioneers in the opener, allowing just one run on five hits over the first six innings.  The junior, who transferred to Malone from Northern Kentucky University prior to the start of the season, improved his record to 1-1 on the year after striking out seven.

The Pioneers opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning as leftfielder Keanan Locke drew a two-out walk, stole second and then raced home on a double to left-center by second baseman Tyler Eagon.  Malone then tacked on solo runs in the third and fourth innings before Walsh got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth with a two-out, RBI single from designated hitter Steve Wido.

However, the hosts quickly answered back, plating three runs in the bottom of the inning to grab a commanding 6-1 advantage.  First baseman Michael Chack got the scoring started with a double down the rightfield line.  After intentionally walking third baseman Bob Suitca to load the bases, catcher Hayden Mobley trotted home when the Walsh pitcher was called for a balk.  The final run of the frame came two batters later as shortstop Jon Crank lifted a sacrifice fly to right.

The Cavaliers were unable to manufacture any additional runs the rest of the way as Baker hurled a scoreless sixth before reliever Jesse Coblentz came on in the seventh and worked around a pair of singles to cement the victory.

Malone totaled six hits in the game, led by rightfielder Rich Mast, who went 2-for-2 with a stolen base and two runs scored in his first collegiate start.

Game Two Recap
A pair of two-run doubles in the top of the first inning of the finale gave Walsh an early 4-0 advantage.  Malone pulled to within 4-2 in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by centerfielder Daulton Ritter followed by an RBI groundout for Mast.

The Cavaliers pushed their lead back to four runs in the top of the third, scoring the first run on an RBI single by leftfielder Tim Stinson and the second on a wild pitch.  Malone would get one run back in the third to make it 6-3 before staging a late rally in the bottom of the seventh.

Mast got the comeback started with a lead-off double.   Cavalier starting pitcher Joe Tann was then lifted for closer Neal Edwards after hitting Mobley, the next batter of the inning, with a pitch.  Upon entering the contest, Edwards then proceeded to hit Chack with his very first pitch to load the bases with no outs.

The Cavaliers' sophomore relief pitcher recovered from the early wildness to strike out the next two batters of the inning.  With Malone down to its final out, Crank stepped to the plate and lined a two-strike pitch over the out-stretched glove of the Walsh shortstop, scoring Mast and Mobley.

Now clinging to a 6-5 advantage with the tying run at third and the winning run at second, Edwards managed to regain his composure and escape the jam, striking out the next batter of the inning to preserve the one-run victory and notch his second save of the season.

Tann picked up the win (2-1) after allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits over the first six innings.  Matt Litty started on the mound and took the loss (0-2) for Malone.  The sophomore right-hander surrendered four runs over the first 1.2 innings before being forced to leave the contest with an injury.

Freshman Dillon Stertzbach tossed the final 5.1 innings for the Pioneers, limiting Walsh to two runs on three hits.

Malone registered seven base hits in the contest.  Crank led the way, going 2-for-3 with one run scored and two runs batted in.