The Malone University softball team concluded its week of spring break games by tallying a 1-1 record on Saturday in contests against Bowie State University and Winston-Salem State University.

During its second day of competition at the West Virginia Wesleyan University Invitational in Salem, Virginia, the Pioneers fell 10-8 in a back-and-forth affair with Bowie State before wrapping up the afternoon with a 6-0 shutout victory over Winston-Salem State.

Weather permitting, the Pioneers, now 7-5 overall, will be back in action on Monday with a 3:00 p.m. non-conference doubleheader at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Game One Recap
Bowie State scored twice in the top of the fourth and once in the top of the fifth to grab a 3-0 lead.  Malone fought back to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth.  Following a lead-off triple by designated player Abbie Hughes, pinch hitter Allison Mercado delivered an RBI single to get the Pioneers on the scoreboard.  An RBI single by catcher Emily Isla made it 3-2 before second baseman Caley Ritts gave MU the lead with a two-out, two-run double.

Bowie State answered back with five runs in the top of the sixth and two runs in the top of the seventh to increase their lead to 10-4. 

Malone refused to go quietly, however.  Freshman first baseman Kerri Manley clubbed her first career home run with two outs and two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, cutting the lead to 10-7.  After the next batter of the inning, third baseman Ashley Beck, drew a walk, Hughes ripped a double to chase home Beck and bring the tying run to the plate.  BSU managed to hang on for the win, though, by inducing a groundout to end the game.

Seven different Pioneers registered base hits in the contest.  Shortstop Alexa Holztrager went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and two runs scored. Hughes reached base three times and smacked two extra-base hits.

Game Two Recap
Senior starting pitcher Kari Hall tossed her second complete-game shutout of the season to improve her record to 6-4.  Hall allowed just three base hits while striking out four.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third.  Rightfielder Taylor Lauer started the frame with a leadoff single and then came home to score on a triple by centerfielder Mikayla Fowler.  Isla followed with a single up the middle to make it 2-0 before Manley wrapped up the third-inning scoring with a one-out single.

Malone would then tack on three more runs in the sixth to put the contest out of reach.

Malone Notes:
- MU is batting .320 as a team and five Pioneers are currently hitting.360 or better this season
-Hall is currently tied for the GLIAC lead in wins (6) and is third in the conference in strikeouts (53)