The Malone University baseball team needed 14 innings to dispatch of the Dragons of Tiffin University 4-3 in the first of two games on Saturday afternoon. The second game went to extras again as Malone won 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth on its second walk-off of the day. With the doubleheader sweep, the Pioneers improved to 21-16 on the season and 12-7 in the GLIAC.
Game One Recap:
Malone struck first in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI groundout from Matt Davis. The 1-0 lead would hold until the top of the third when the Dragons manufactured a run to knot it up at 1-1.
The Pioneers would regain the lead on an RBI double from Brenden Wells in the fourth that made it 2-1. Jon Crank's 10th homerun of the season in the bottom of the sixth added an insurance run for the Pioneers who led 3-1 going into the final inning.
After cruising through six innings and allowing just two hits, Malone starting pitcher Braun Miller got in a bit of a jam in the top of the seventh. A walk and a single put runners on first and third with one out for the Dragons. A sacrifice fly cut the deficit in half but a clutch two-out double from Tiffin's number nine hitter Kyle Lento tied the ball game at 3-3 and gave Tiffin new life.
The two teams would trade zeros for the next six innings. Malone had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the 11th when Brenden Wells' double followed a Matt Noel single. Trying to score from first on the ball in the gap, a perfect relay nailed Noel at the plate and preserved the 3-all tie.
It was Wells again who reached base in the bottom of the 14th. After stealing 2nd and advancing to third on a balk, Wells was just 90 feet away from scoring the game-winning run when head coach Tom Crank called on pinch-hitter Ryan Sarbaugh. Needing only to hit a fly ball, Ryan Sarbaugh's double over the centerfielder's head drove home Wells and ended the marathon affair, clearing the Pioneer bench in a raucous celebration.
Joshua Hurford, who tossed six innings in a win over Walsh on Wednesday, gave a gutsy effort, striking out five in six scoreless innings on just two days rest. Gary Lawrence earned the win after working top of the 14th.
Jon Crank had two hits and two runs for the Pioneers. Matt Davis added a double
Game Two Recap:
The Pioneers loaded the bases in each of the first two innings but failed to produce a run. Tiffin, however, loaded the bases in the top of the fourth and broke a 0-0 tie on a single up the middle that scored two. The 2-0 Tiffin advantage would hold until the bottom of the sixth.
Matt Davis led off the inning with a single and came around to third on Brenden Wells' third two-bagger of the afternoon. Ryan Sarbaugh's sacrifice fly plated Davis before Austin Pachan's sacrifice fly plated Wells and tied the game at 2-2.
Coming in to relieve Roscoe Blackburn ,who took the no-decision after striking out eight batters in six innings, Gunnar Smeyres needed only four pitches to get three outs in the top of the seventh. In the bottom half of the seventh, Malone went down in order, forcing extra fames.
Smeyres (1-0) worked two more perfect innings before Malone came to bat in the bottom of the ninth. Sarbaugh was in the thick of things again, singling to lead off the inning. After advancing to second on a sac bunt from Austin Pachan, Sarbaugh was replaced on the bases by Dyllan West. A walk and a strike out brought Keanan Locke to the plate with the winning run on second and two outs in the inning.
Locke played the hero role to perfection, delivering the game-winning RBI. His bloop single just cleared the outstretched glove of the Tiffin shortstop and scored West. Locke's base knock was his only hit of the afternoon in 10 at bats, but it came at the perfect time, giving Malone the 3-2 victory and a doubleheader sweep.
Up Next:
The Pioneers will play two more with Tiffin on Sunday, April 24th as the Pioneers celebrate Senior Day. First pitch is slated for 12:00 pm
