The Malone University baseball team dropped its home opener Tuesday afternoon to NCAA DII #16 Mercyhurst (PA) by the final score of 10-3. With the loss, Malone dropped to 6-8 on the season. The Pioneers will begin Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) play this weekend.
 
Recap:
The nationally-ranked Lakers jumped on Malone starter Joe Costello for a run in the first and four more in the second, chasing the 2015 All-GLIAC First Teamer out of the game after just two innings with Malone trailing 5-0.
 
The Pioneers emptied their bullpen as six different relievers came on in relief, scattering just three hits and two unearned runs over the next six innings before Mercyhurst first baseman Daniel Elliott put the game out of reach with a two-out three-run homerun in the top of the ninth
 
The Malone lineup, meanwhile, managed just seven singles in the game. The Pioneers scored a run in each of of the third and fourth innings before scoring their third run on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh. Down 6-3 after the seventh, the Pioneers failed to reach base in the final two innings as the Lakers pulled away for the 10-3 victory.
 
Keanan Locke totaled two hits and a run scored while Richie Mast added two singles and extended his hitting streak to nine games. Jon Crank and Ryan Froman each drove in a run.
 
Up Next:
Malone is scheduled to play a pair of GLIAC doubleheaders this weekend with Lake Erie College. Friday's twinbill is set to be played in Painesville starting at 1:00 pm. The Pioneers will then host the Storm for two games on Saturday at Schoonover Stadium at Kent State University. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm.