The Malone University baseball team will resume Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) competition this weekend when they host Northwood University (MI) for four contests. The original schedule had the two schools playing a pair of weekend doubleheaders, but adjustments were made to accommodate for potential weather concerns. The new schedule will be played as follows:
Saturday, April 2nd: A single nine-inning game is slated for 4:00 pm
Sunday, April 3rd: A doubleheader of two seven-inning games will begin at 1:00 pm
Monday, April 4th: The two teams will conclude their series with another single nine-inning contest. First pitch is set for 12:00 pm
*All games will be played at the Massillon Jackson High School baseball field
Live Stats:Â www.sidearmstats.com/malone/baseball/Â (No live stats will be available for Saturday's contest)
Records:Â Malone (11-9, 3-1 GLIAC)Â |Â Northwood (13-9, 3-1 GLIAC)Rosters:Â
Malone |
NorthwoodStatistics: Malone | NorthwoodAll Time Record: Since joining the GLIAC in 2013, Malone is 1-5 against Northwood. The Pioneers won their first matchup but have since dropped five straight to the Timberwolves.
Malone Notes:Â - Over the last four games, the Pioneers have hit a blistering .450 from the dish while slugging an impressive .748 in doubleheader sweeps of Lake Erie and Notre Dame
- On the season, Malone is 5th in the nation in team batting average (.351) and leads the GLIAC in slugging percentage (.498) and homeruns (18)
- Jon Crank (.343 BA) has been on a power surge this season...the senior third baseman leads the GLIAC in homers (8) and RBI (29) and third in slugging (.743)
- Leadoff man Keanan Locke (.451, 3HR, 16 RBI)Â has been tremendous in setting the table this season reaching base at a .500 clip...the junior centerfielder ranks 4th in the conference in average and stolen bases (8) and 6th in OBP and runs scored (22)
- Cleanup hitter Matt Davis (.438, 3HR, 15 RBI) ranks fifth in average and OBP (.524) and 6th in slugging (.688)...the senior catcher reached base 11 times in his last four games and scored 10 runs
- Richie Mast (.402, .437 OBP, 15 RBI) and Brenden Wells (.333, .421 OBP, 2 HR, 18 RBI) have been outstanding in top half of the order
- Austin Pachan (.306, .394 OBP) has hit .500 (14-for-28) in his last nine games, hitting two longballs and scoring nine runs
- Four pitchers have settled nicely into their weekend starting roles...Tyler Whitlatch (3-0, 2.74 ERA), Roscoe Blackburn (1-3, 4.42), Braun Miller (2-0, 3.63), and Clyde Yoder (1-1, 4.86) are all probable to start in the four-game series
- Whitlatch ranks 6th in the conference in ERA, 5th in strikeouts (31), 3rd in K/9!P (12.13), and 1st in strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.33)...the senior lefty is 11th in the nation in that same category, surrendering just three walks in 23 innings pitched
Northwood Notes:- In four conference games, Northwood's pitching staff is ranked second in both team ERA (2.30) and batting average against (.205)
- Alex Lewandowski (4-1, 3.58 ERA), Kyle Vedrode (1-1, 5.01), and Brogan Fischer (1-0, 4.74) combined for 20.1 IP and one earned run in three quality starts last weekend against Findlay...all three righties should see starts this weekend on the bump
- Relievers Matt Stojkov (11.2 IP. 0.77 ERA) and Shawn Larner (9 !P, 1.00 ERA) bolster a staff that has combined for a 2.79 ERA over the last 12 games
- The offense is powered by five guys hitting .345 or better...Cody Kuzniczci leads the team with two homeruns, 18 RBI, and a .391 batting average
- Connor Foley (.368) leads the team with four stolen bases while Daniel Pulver (.364)Â is tied for the team-lead in RBIÂ
