Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
The Malone University softball team (8-8-1, 0-2 GLIAC) hung tough with Northwood University (MI) (11-7, 2-0 GLIAC) in their GLIAC and home-opening doubleheader, but couldn't find enough timely hits to record a victory, losing both contests by scores of 2-0 and 6-1.
 
Junior pitcher Jillian Coyle (5-4) worked seven strong innings of four-hit ball in game one, but was handed the loss due to a lack of run support. The Malone offense did manage to pound out eight hits off of Northwood's starting pitcher, Maddison Sebald, but stranded eight runners on the base paths. Sophomores Alexa Holztrager and Desi Hengoed both recorded two hits for the Pioneers, one of which went for a double for Hengoed.
 
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Malone put runners on first and second with two outs, but freshman Mikayla Fowler, representing the winning run, grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
 
Malone also saw themselves in a nail-biter in game 2 until Northwood broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning. Trailing 2-0 in the top of the top of the third, Hengoed bounced a single through the right side to score Holztrager and cut the Timberwolves lead in half.
 
The Pioneers looked poised to take the lead in the top half of the sixth when they loaded the bases for Holztrager with the score still 2-1, but Northwood pitcher Casey Brown fanned Holztrager to pick up one of her eight strikeouts and escape the jam.
 
The Timberwolves then got to junior starter Stephanie Byrne in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs off of two home runs.
 
Byrne fell to 3-4 on the season, giving up six earned runs in 5 and 2/3 innings pitched. Sophomore Emily Isla led Malone's offense with two of their seven hits for the game.
 
Malone travels to North Canton tomorrow to square off in a doubleheader against Walsh University. First pitch of game 1 is scheduled for 3:30 pm.