The Malone University baseball team suffered losses of 5-3 and 7-2 on Friday during its season-opening doubleheader against Sul Ross State (TX) University (5-6 overall) at the Tucson Invitational.

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday in Arizona with a 3:00 p.m. MST (5:00 p.m. EST) doubleheader against the University of Mary (ND). Live statistics will be provided during both of the contests on Saturday.

Game One Recap
The Pioneers jumped out to 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one.  Centerfielder Brenden Wells led off the contest with a single and then later came around to score on an RBI double by leftfielder Keanan Locke.

The Lobos did all of their damage in the bottom of the third, chasing home five runs.  An RBI single by third baseman Tyler Eagon cut the deficit to 5-2 in the top of the sixth.  Malone threatened in the top of the seventh as a single, walk and fielding error made it 5-3 and left the tying runs on base with no outs.

Sul Ross State reliever Colton West retired the next two batters before an infield single by rightfielder Matt Wheeler loaded the bases.  However, West managed to escape the jam, inducing a groundout to end the game.

In his first outing as a Pioneer since transferring from NCAA Division I Marshall University, Wells went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.  Wheeler and designated hitter Matt Davis each added a pair of hits.

After sitting out last season, left-hander Tyler Whitlatch returned to the mound for the Pioneers and tossed the first four innings.  Justin Vaigert picked up the win for the Lobos after working the first six frames.

Game Two Recap
Sul Ross State jumped on Malone early in game two, plating five runs in the top of the first and two more in the second.  A big two-out, three-run double sparked the Lobos in the first inning.

Wells got the Pioneers on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first after leading off the frame with a single and later coming home to score on an RBI single by Wheeler.

Relievers Cody Ballay, Jordan Yoder and Mike Shori combined to hold Sul Ross State scoreless over the final five innings, but Malone was unable to overcome the early deficit. 

Wheeler drove in both of the Pioneers' runs, adding a sacrifice fly in the sixth.  Locke tallied two of Malone's six singles in the contest.

Eli Gallego went the distance on the mound for SRSU to earn the win.