Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Malone University baseball team tallied a 1-1 record on Monday in its doubleheader against Minot State (ND) University.  The Pioneers notched a 3-0 triumph in game one behind a strong outing by right-handed starting pitcher Gary Lawrence.  The Beavers then evened things up in game two after rallying for a 6-5 victory

Malone, now 3-8 overall, will wrap up its trip to Arizona on Tuesday with a 9:00 a.m. MDT (11:00 a.m. EDT) doubleheader against Concordia University St. Paul (MN).

Game One Recap
Lawrence tossed a four-hit, complete game shutout in Monday's opener.  The redshirt freshman struck out six while walking just two, improving his record to 1-0 on the season. 

The Pioneers got all the offense they would need in the bottom of the second inning when centerfielder Keanan Locke drove in a pair with a two-out single.  Malone would tack on an insurance run in the sixth.  First baseman Logan Gray led off the frame with a single, moved to second a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Jon Crank and then later crossed the plate on an RBI single by leftfielder Ryan Froman.

Lawrence did not allow a base hit after the fourth inning, retiring seven of the last eight batters he faced.

Six different Pioneers recorded base hits in the contest.

Game Two Recap
Gray gave Malone a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the finale with a two-out RBI double.  Minot State answered back in the second, scoring three times with the help of four walks.  Gray got things going again for the Pioneer offense in the fourth, leading off the frame with a triple.  Crank and catcher Matt Davis followed with back-to-back doubles to knot the score at 3-3.

Malone then pulled in front 5-3 in the sixth when shortstop Richie Mast came through with a bases-loaded single, scoring both Gray and Davis after each had singled earlier in the inning.

However, the Beavers answered back in the bottom of the frame, smashing a three-run homer to grab a 6-5 advantage..

Malone threatened to tie the game in the top of the seventh, putting a runner at third with two outs.  Gray then stepped to the plate and smacked a ground ball into the hole between second and third, but Minot State shortstop Brad Rolff made a nice play to retire the Malone clean-up hitter and cement the one-run victory.

Gray finished a home run shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.  Locke and Davis each added two hits in three at-bats.

Right-handed reliever Brad Beachy suffered the loss (1-2) after entering the game at the start of the sixth.