In day one of the GLIAC Tournament, the Malone University baseball team dropped its first game with Wayne State University (MI) on Grady's Field in Xenia, Ohio at the Athletes in Action Sports Complex. The #4 seeded Warriors outscored #3 Malone 13-5 while outhitting the Pioneers 17-9. Malone will have another go at it on Friday, May 13th when it takes on Grand Valley State at 2:00 pm of day two of the double elimination tournament.
 
Recap:
The Warriors struck first in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. A two-out double off Malone starter Joshua Hurford (3-2) set the tone for a big offensive day for Wayne State.
 
Malone captured their only lead off the game in the bottom of the second. Following a leadoff double down the right field line from Brenden Wells, the Pioneers managed to score three runs without hitting the ball out of the infield. After advancing to third on a Ryan Sarbaugh groundout, Wells scored Malone's first run on an infield single by Derek Carmichael. In a nine-pitch at bat, Joe Crank reached on fielder's choice and advanced on a throwing error, putting runners on second and third. A Wayne State balk scored Carmichael before a squeeze bunt from Austin Pachan plated Crank and gave Malone a 3-1 edge.
 
The advantage wouldn't last long as Wayne State immediately answered with three runs of their own in the top of the third. Back-to-back baserunners in the top of the fourth chased Hurford and forced Malone to go their bullpen early in the tournament. Tyler Whitlatch got Malone out of the jam in the fourth, but the Warriors added a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to make it a 7-3 ball game.
 
Following three quiet innings for the Malone offense, an eventful bottom of the sixth gave Malone new hope. Matt Davis led off the inning with a double deep into the left-centerfield gap and advanced to third when Brenden Wells legged out an infield single. A would-be double-play ball led to another Pioneer baserunner when an errant throw from the pitcher pulled the shortstop off the bag and loaded the bases for Malone.
 
With the bags full and nobody out, Derek Carmichael, representing the tying run, made it a 7-4 contest with an RBI groundout. But back-to-back strikeouts ended the Pioneer threat.
 
A half of an inning later, Wayne State belted two homeruns en route to a five-run frame. Another run in the top of the eighth stretched the lead to 13-4 and effectively extinguished any chances of Malone sparking a comeback.
 
The Pioneers tacked on a run in the bottom of the eighth but it was far too little, far too late as Wayne State held on for the 13-5 triumph.

Brenden Wells had two hits and two runs for Malone while Keanan Locke and Ryan Sarbaugh added two hits apiece. Derek Carmichael finished with three RBI.
 
Up Next:
Malone (26-23, 18-13 GLIAC) will take on #1 seed Grand Valley State (32-15-1, 23-8 GLIAC) in an elimination game for the Pioneers. The Lakers held off Hillsdale College 5-3 on Thursday. First pitch is slated for 2:00 pm.
 
Live stats and audio links are available at: http://www.gliac.org/sports/bsb/2015-16/releases/tournament/2016