Box Score

The Malone University baseball team brought its 2014 campaign to a close on Sunday afternoon with a 6-4 loss at NCAA Division II #18 Grand Valley State (MI) University.

The Lakers improved to 33-11 overall and 24-6 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference following the victory while the Pioneers fell to 18-31 overall and 13-20 in conference play.

Grand Valley State took an early 5-0 lead, scoring one run in the first and two runs in both the second and third innings.  Malone got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh as rightfielder Matt Wheeler crossed the plate on an RBI fielder's choice by shortstop Kyler King.

The Lakers made it 6-1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth before Malone staged a ninth-inning rally.  Third baseman Jon Crank drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the first run.  First baseman Logan Gray followed with a two-out, two-run single to left-center, giving the senior his 31st and 32nd RBI's of the year and cutting the deficit to 6-4. 

However, with the tying runs on base, GVSU managed to escape trouble, getting a called third strike to cement the victory.

Right-hander Joe Costello started on the mound and tossed the first seven innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on nine hits.

Malone drew seven walks in the contest to go with three hits as catcher Matt Davis, King and Gray each recorded singles.