The Malone University baseball team wrapped up its regular-season schedule on Sunday by tallying a 1-1 record in its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against NCAA Div. II No. 13 Grand Valley State (MI) University.

The Lakers plated four runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn a 5-1 victory in the opener.  The Pioneers then bounced back in the finale, earning a series split with a 3-0 triumph in game two.

Malone held Bob Starcher Memorial Day festivities before the day's action began, honoring the program's longtime former head coach.  Catcher Matt Davis and third baseman Jon Crank were named the recipients of the Starcher Memorial Baseball Scholarships.  Women's swimmer Cindy Jewel collected the Female Athlete Scholarship while men's soccer player Sam Tonelli was the recipient of the Male Athlete Scholarship.

Pioneer seniors Tyler Eagon, Hayden Mobley and Matt Wheeler along with each of their families were recognized between games.

Malone will begin GLIAC Postseason Tournament play in Xenia, Ohio on Thursday with a 10:30 a.m. match-up against a familiar foe, Grand Valley State.   Following the conclusion of Sunday's games around the conference, the Pioneers earned the No. 5 seed in the six-team field.  GVSU, the North Division Champions, are seeded second behind No. 1 Ashland University, the GLIAC South Champions.

A complete tournament schedule and additional information is available at http://www.gliac.org/sports/bsb/2014-15/championships/2015

A full preview article will be posted on www.malonepioneers.com later this week.

Game One Recap
The opener remained scoreless until the top of the sixth when GVSU got on the scoreboard with a pair of doubles.

Grand Valley State then used three hits and three Pioneer errors to tack on four more runs in the seventh.

An RBI single to center by Crank brought home centerfielder Brenden Wells in the bottom of the seventh, but the Pioneers were unable to manufacture any additional offense, falling by the 5-1 final.

The Pioneers registered eight hits in the contest as Crank, Wheeler and shortstop Richie Mast all went 2-for-3.

Game Two Recap
Starter Tyler Whitlatch and relievers Jordan Knight and Gunnar Smeyres combined to shutout the Lakers in the nine-inning finale.  Whitlatch picked up the win after scattering five hits and striking out six over the first 7.1 innings.  Knight retired the final two batters of the eighth before giving way to Smeyres, who worked a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his second save of the weekend.

Designated hitter Matt Davis put Malone on top 1-0 in the first with an RBI single.  Mobley made it 2-0 in the third with a two-out RBI single to left.  Davis then wrapped up the scoring in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to center.

Mast, Crank and Mobley all finished with two hits apiece in game two.