Box Score

The Malone University baseball team dropped a nine-inning game at home to Hillsdale (MI) College on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 5-2.  The Pioneers led 2-1 after seven innings before the Chargers rallied for the win by plating three in the eighth and one run in the ninth.

The two teams had been scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday but field conditions prompted a change in plans.  The squads will wrap up their three-game series on Monday with an 11:00 a.m. twinbill.

The loss snapped the Pioneers' five-game winning streak as Malone slipped to 10-12 overall and 5-2 in the GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).  Hillsdale, meanwhile, improved to 6-15 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

Both of Malone's runs came in the bottom of the first inning.  Centerfielder Keanan Locke led off the frame with a double.  A wild pitch moved Locke to third and rightfielder Matt Wheeler followed with a walk to put runners at the corners.  Leftfielder Hayden Mobley drove home Locke with a double to left and first baseman Logan Gray lifted a sacrifice fly to right, giving the hosts the early lead.

Hillsdale starting pitcher Matthew Reck then settled in after surrendering the two early runs, holding the Pioneers off the scoreboard over the remainder of the game.

The Chargers brought home their first run of the contest with a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth.  Hillsdale then utilized a walk, a Pioneer error and three base hits to pull ahead for good in the eighth.

Reck went the distance on the mound, improving to 2-2 on the season after surrendering the two runs on five hits.  Matt Litty tossed the first six innings for Malone, surrendering one run on five hits while striking out six.

Locke and Mobley each collected a pair of hits to pace the Pioneer offense.