Malone will start conference play at home this weekend as they welcome Saginaw Valley State University (MI) in their home opener on Friday, March 25th at 3:00 p.m. Malone will then play Wayne State University (MI) at home on Saturday, March 26^th for a 1:00 p.m. contest.

Live Stats SVSU: http://www.sidearmstats.com/malone/softball/
Live Stats WSU: Stats will not be available for the Wayne State game.

Rosters:
Malone | SVSU | WSU

Schedules:
Malone | SVSU | WSU

Statistics:
Malone | SVSU | WSU

2016 Records:
Malone: 9-5; This is the best start through the first 14 games since the 1999 season.
Saginaw Valley State: 14-4
Wayne State: 23-4

All-time series:
SVSU: 0-6
WSU: 0-6

Game Preview: Malone

-Malone is coming off a 3-2 and 6-3 double-header sweep against Point Park University (PA). Pitcher Kari Hall tossed her second complete game on the day and registered a total of 10 strikeouts. In game one, Mikayla Fowler went 2-for-4 at the plate, tallied one run scored and a RBI. In game two, Allison Mercado went 2-for-4 at the plate, collected two RBI's, and a double.
-Hall has played lights out from the circle. So far this season, she has tossed eight complete games, tallied two shutouts, and has registered 63 total strikeouts. Hall is currently tied for third in the GLIAC in wins (8) and fourth in strikeouts (63).
-Catcher Emily Isla leads MU with a .400 batting average and is tied for the team lead in doubles (2) and triples (1). Isla is currently 14th in the GLIAC in batting average (.400).
-Allison Mercado and Isla have each collected 11 RBI's to lead the team.
-Caley Ritts leads the freshmen class with a .355 batting average.
-Six Pioneer players are averaging a .300 plus batting average.
-As a team, the Pioneers are ranked third in the GLIAC in batting average (.309).

Game Preview: Saginaw Valley State

-The Cardinals are coming off a 13-1 and 5-2 double-header win to Aquinas College (MI) on Wednesday.
-SVSU is on an 11 game winning streak.
-Shelby Weeks leads the Cardinals in batting average (.467) and slugging percentage (.978). She is currently first in the GLIAC in home runs (five) and second in batting average (.467).
-Pitcher Samantha Willman has pitched in 20.2 innings and has compiled an ERA of 0.34. She has a 2-0 record from the circle.
-Three players for the Cardinals boast a .300 plus batting average.

Game Preview: Wayne State

-The Warriors are coming off an 8-0 and 9-1 double-header victory over Saint Michael's College (VT) from last Saturday. On Friday, Wayne State will play at Walsh University for their first GLIAC contest of the season.
-The only teams that the Warriors have lost to this season are Missouri University of Science and Technology, Concord University (WV), Florida Institute of Technology, and Merrimack College (MA).
-Pitcher Lyndsay Butler has been playing lights out for the Warriors as she has tossed 107 strikeouts and has registered an impressive 0.30 ERA. She leads the GLIAC in both categories. At the plate, she also leads the team in batting average (.458), slugging percentage (.771), doubles (eight), and runs scored (23). Butler is fourth in the GLIAC in batting average (.458).
-As a team, they lead the GLIAC in batting average (.342). For pitching, they also lead the GLIAC in strikeouts (180) and ERA (1.19).
-Six players have tallied a .300 plus batting average.

Up Next:
-Malone will travel to Ashland, OH to take on Ashland University for a 3:30 p.m. contest on Tuesday, March 29^th.