The Malone University baseball team lost for the second time in as many days to NCAA DII #2 St. Cloud St. (MN), dropping a 16-3 decision to the Huskies under the lights of Kino Stadium Tuesday night in Tucson.
 
Recap:
Malone scored all three of its runs with two outs in the top of the first inning. Richie Mast reached base with a one-out triple, before scoring on a two-out RBI double by catcher Matt Davis. Derek Carmichael followed with an RBI single, and came around to score on Brenden Wells' single that was misplayed by the centerfielder.
 
In the bottom of the first, Malone starting pitcher Roscoe Blackburn stranded two runners on base as the Pioneers maintained the 3-0 lead.
 
Two Pioneers reached base in the top of the second but failed to score. In the bottom of the inning, Blackburn surrendered just one run, leaving the bases loaded, still leading 3-1.
 
Derek Carmichael added his second hit of the game in the top of the third, but the Pioneers were held hitless over the final seven innings. Meanwhile, the powerful Huskies' lineup tallied four runs in the bottom of the third and nine more by the end of the sixth before cruising to the 16-3 final.
 
Malone's lead, however short-lived, was the only time that the nationally-ranked Huskies had trailed all season after a completed inning.
 
Pioneer centerfielder Keanan Locke stretched his hitting streak to six games with a single in the second.
 
Up next:
Malone (1-5) will have Wednesday off to regroup before a doubleheader with Southwest Minnesota St. on Thursday, March 10th starting at 6:00 pm EST (4:00 pm MST).