The Malone University softball team registered a loss and a tie during Thursday's home opener against Mercyhurst University.

In the first game of the non-conference doubleheader, the visiting Lakers used a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to rally back for an 8-7 victory.  Before the second contest of the day was called due to darkness, it was the Pioneers who engineered a late comeback.  With her team down 4-2 in the fifth inning, shortstop Ashley Beck pulled Malone to within 4-3 with a solo homer to center.  With daylight dwindling, Ashley's twin sister, Emily Beck, then knotted the score in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out RBI single.

Game One Recap
The two teams combined for 12 runs over the first three innings of the opener.  Mercyhurst got on the scoreboard with a two-run home run in the top of the first.  Malone answered back with four runs in the bottom of the frame.  Second baseman Mikayla Fowler led off the inning with a triple and then scored on an RBI single by centerfielder Madison Corrick.  A few batters later, catcher Anna Myers tied the game with an RBI single through the right side of the infield.  Emily Beck then ripped a two-run single through the left side to put Malone in front 4-2.

The Lakers regained the lead with a bases-loaded double in the top of the third, but pinch hitter Allison Mercado duplicated the feat for the Pioneers in the bottom of the inning as she clubbed a three-run double to left to put the hosts on top 7-5.

Mercyhurst inched closer in the fifth, using a run-scoring single to make the score 7-6.  Following a scoreless sixth inning, Malone retired the first two batters in the top of the seventh.  However, a hit-by-pitch put the tying run on base before the Lakers' Emily Hair put the visitors in front with a clutch two-run homer.

Emily Beck opened the bottom of the seventh with a single, but the Lakers then retired the next three Pioneers in order to preserve the come-from-behind victory.

Emily Beck notched three of Malone's 13 hits in the contest.  Fowler, Corrick and Myers each added two hits apiece.
 
Game Two Recap
After Mercyhurst scored an unearned run in the top of the third inning, Malone took the lead in the bottom of the frame on a two-run blast by Ashley Beck.

The Lakers tied the score with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and then pulled ahead with two more runs in the fifth.  Ashley Beck's second home run of the game, a solo shot in the fifth, pulled the Pioneers to within one at 4-3.

Mercado got things started in the bottom of the seventh with a lead-off walk. Pinch runner Kennedy Johnson then moved all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Myers before racing home when Emily Beck laced a single to left field.

A bunt single by rightfielder Maria Mokler advanced Beck to second before a fly out to right brought the inning to a close.

With darkness quickly moving in, the game was declared a tie.

Ashley Beck had an incredible game with a triple and two home runs.  Beck is the first Pioneer to homer twice in one game since 2012 when Megan Lane hit a pair of long balls against Cedarville University.  Beck's 11 total bases in Thursday's finale were the most for a Pioneer in a single game since 2010 when All-American Kristen Atzenhoefer crusehed three homers and a double in a lop-sided home win over Carlow University (14 total bases).

Mokler went a perfect 4-for-4 in the contest while Emily Beck and Corrick added two base hits each.

Up Next:
Malone will travel to Cedarville University on Friday to start a four-game Great Midwest Athletic Conference series with the Yellow Jackets.  Malone and CU will play two games on Friday starting at 3:00 p.m.  Another doubleheader will follow on Saturday, starting at noon.