The Malone University baseball team split a pair of games with the University of Findlay Friday afternoon at the Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley, West Virginia. The Pioneers used a sterling pitching performance in taking game one 9-1 before having the tables turned on them in a 4-0 loss in game two.
 
Game One Recap:
Senior starting pitcher Tyler Whitlatch (2-0) was dominant in the win, striking out a career-high 11 batters en route to a complete game victory. After allowing two hits and a run in the top of the first, Whitlatch gave up just one more hit, a single in the top of the second, before retiring the side in order in each of the final five innings. The 6'5" lefty was brilliant down the stretch, punching out seven Oilers in the last three innings.
 
The Malone lineup was firing on all cylinders in game one as all nine starters had at least one base hit for the Pioneers. Matt Davis led the charge with three hits, including a double and his second homerun of the season, and two RBI. Austin Pachan added three singles and two runs scored.
 
Richie Mast double and singled while Daulton Ritter singled twice. Keanan Locke singled in the fifth and drove in a pair of runs.
 
Senior third baseman Jon Crank tripled off the center field wall in the bottom of the third and later came in to score. An inning later, his younger brother, freshman second baseman Joe Crank, reached base via bunt for his first collegiate hit.
 
Game Two Recap:
Findlay starter Austin Rodesky (4-0), who came into the game ranked second in the conference with a 1.17 ERA, held the potent Pioneer lineup to seven hits and three walks, while striking out eight in a seven-inning complete game shutout.
 
The Oilers took an early lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the second before tacking on two runs in the bottom of the third on a two-out two-run double from Christion Smith. Findlay scored its final run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Malone loaded the bases with three hits in the top of the first but failed to drive home a run. The Pioneers never really threatened again as no runner advanced past second base over the remainder of the game. Ryan Froman had the Pioneers' lone extra-base hit with a double in the top of the fourth
 
Roscoe Blackburn (1-2) took the loss after allowing two earned runs over four innings, fanning five, and walking none.
 
Up Next:
Malone will meet Findlay again tomorrow (March 19th) for a single nine-inning rubber match. Tentative first pitch is scheduled for 10:00 am in Beckley.