The Malone University softball team lost both games on the road to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opponent Saginaw Valley State University (MI) on Saturday by the final scores of 12-7 and 8-4.

The Pioneers will continue conference play on the road as they travel to Wayne State University (MI) on Sunday, April 12. The game is scheduled to start at noon.

Game One Recap

Malone's first basemen Allison Mercado got the Pioneers started when she doubled to right field, allowing shortstop Alexa Holztrager to score, giving the Pioneers the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Leftfielder Erika Gerber singled to right center, bringing Stephanie Byrne in for the run to extend the lead 2-0. Mercado would take advantage of a Cardinals error by scoring another run for Malone to increase the lead 3-0 in the top of the first.

Saginaw Valley State would score two runs in the bottom of the first inning to jump on the scoreboard 3-2.

Holztrager got her first triple of the season in the top of the second inning to bring Mikayla Fowler across the plate, making it a 4-2 game. Byrne then doubled to rightfield, allowing Emily Isla and Emily Beck to score to put the Pioneers ahead 6-2 in the top of the second.

The Cardinals would score off a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third and scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 6-5 game.

Pitcher Kari Hall would score on a Saginaw Valley State throwing error to extend the Pioneers' lead to 7-5 in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Saginaw Valley State scored again off a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit 7-6.

The bottom of the sixth inning would be a turning point in the game for the Cardinals as they took command, scoring six runs to take their first lead of the game 12-7.

The Pioneers were unable to convert any runs in the top of the seventh inning, giving the Cardinals the 12-7 victory.

Holztrager went 3-for-4 at the plate, collected a triple and an RBI to pace the Pioneer offense, while Isla went 2-for-3 at the plate and tallied a double. Mercado went 2-for-4 at the plate, registered a double and added an RBI.

Game Two Recap

Saginaw Valley State jumped on the scoreboard first in the second game, when Shelby Weeks collected a solo home run in the top of the first inning to lead 1-0.

Mercado continued with the strong hitting on the day when she singled to right center, allowing both Isla and Holztrager to score in the bottom of the first inning. The runs kept coming for Malone when pitcher Julie Ward doubled to centerfield, bringing in Mercado and Byrne to take the 4-1 advantage.

The Cardinals then scored a run in the top of the second to make the game 4-2.

The next four innings would be quiet, until the top of the seventh inning when Saginaw Valley State scored six runs to retake the lead, 8-4.

Malone had another try in the bottom of the seventh inning, but was unable to score any runs, giving the 8-4 win to the Cardinals.

Mercado went 2-for-4 at the plate, notched two RBIs and a double to lead the Pioneer offense, while Ward registered two RBIs and a double.