The Malone University softball team opened up their 2016 campaign with an exciting 2-0 victory over Brevard College (NC), while falling 8-0 in the second game on the first day of competition at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC on Sunday afternoon. Head coach
Kathryn Bzdafka picked up her first win at the helm of the program.
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Malone will play against Robert Morris University (IL) at 9:30 a.m. and Ohio Valley University (WV) at 3:30 p.m. on Monday at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. Live
stats and live
video will be available.
Game One:It was a battle of the defenses for both Brevard and Malone as the Pioneers gathered five hits while holding the Tornados to only two hits during the first seven innings. With neither team scoring, the game would head into the eighth inning.
Malone really got their rhythm going in the top of the eighth inning as centerfielder
Mikayla Fowler singled to center field. On the next play, Fowler would successfully steal second base. Shortstop
Alexa Holztrager was next up at the plate and slammed a double into center field, allowing Fowler to score the first run of the game for the Pioneers. Later in the inning, Holztrager would go on to score a run for the Pioneers, giving Malone the 2-0 lead.
The Tornados couldn't convert a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving Malone their first victory of the season.
Fowler went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Holztrager also went 2-for-4 at the plate, while adding a RBI and a double. Â Â
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Senior pitcher
Kari Hall played a spectacular game in the circle as she registered a new career high with eight strikeouts in the complete game shutout. This was Malone's first shutout since 2014 and first shutout of more than six innings since 2012.
Game Two:Brevard scored two runs in the first inning and kept the momentum going for the rest of the game. They went on to score six more runs to seal the 8-0 victory in six innings.
Holztrager went 2-for-3 at the plate and collected a double.
Freshmen
Caley Ritts and sophomore
Emily Beck both went 1-for-2 at the plate.
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