Box Score

The Malone University baseball team registered a 7-4, extra-inning victory on Sunday in the finale of its three-game weekend series at Hillsdale (MI) College.  The Chargers rallied to tie the game at 4-4 by scoring three times in the bottom of the ninth.  However, the Pioneers immediately responded, plating three runs in the top of the tenth to regain control of the contest.

Hillsdale (16-24 overall, 9-17 GLIAC) launched its ninth-inning comeback bid by tallying four hits in its first five at-bats.  A leadoff single followed by a double and then an RBI groundout made the score 4-2.  The Chargers added a pinch-hit RBI double to right to make it 4-3 before knotting things up when lead-off hitter Zak Northrup delivered a one-out RBI single.

Northrup then moved up to second base when the Pioneers threw home trying to cut down the tying run at the plate.  Despite surrendering the three ninth-inning runs, closer Jesse Coblentz managed to prevent any further damage, stranding Northrup at second after retiring the next two batters with a pop-out to second and a fly-out to center.

The Malone tenth inning got underway with back-to-back singles by leftfielder Keanan Locke and second baseman Tyler Eagon.  A Hillsdale throwing error then allowed Locke to cross the plate with the go-ahead run.  Shortstop Bryce Miller followed with an RBI fielder's choice to push the Malone advantage to 6-4.  Rightfielder Michael Chack then gave the visitors a three-run cushion by ripping an RBI double to right.

Coblentz returned to the mound and worked a scoreless tenth to cement the hard-fought victory and earn his third win of the year (3-1).

Tyler Whitlach tossed the first eight innings for Malone, giving up just one unearned run on six hits.

The Pioneers (19-25 overall, 12-17 GLIAC) had grabbed an early lead by bringing home a pair of runs in the top of the second.  Hillsdale scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning.  Malone made it 3-1 in the fifth on a two-out RBI single by first baseman Jon Crank and then tacked on another run in the top of the ninth with an RBI fielder's choice by third baseman Bob Suitca.

The Pioneers racked up a total of 13 hits in the contest.  Locke led the way with three hits in five at-bats.  Chack and catcher Hayden Mobley each added two hits apiece.

Malone is slated to return to action on Wednesday at home with a single, nine-inning game vs. Lake Erie College.  First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. at Thurman Munson Stadium.