The Malone University softball split a pair of non-conference games in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday afternoon. The team fell to West Virginia State2-0, but bounced back to defeat Penn State Schuylkill 9-1 in five innings. 
 
Game One Recap

After allowing eight runs to West Virginia State on Monday evening, the Pioneers were able to hold the Yellow Jackets to just two runs on Tuesday afternoon. Allyson Gruen and the Pioneer defense held the Yellow Jackets scoreless until fourth inning where the Yellow Jackets gained a 1-0 advantage. West Virginia State would add on one more insurance run in the seventh inning.
 
Malone only gave up three hits on the day, but the team only had one hit of their own. Caley Ritts had the team's only hit, a single to the left side in the second inning.
 
Game Two Recap
 
The Pioneer offense got things rolling in the second game of the day, scoring nine runs on 11 hits. Mikayla Fowler set the tone immediately, leading off with a double to start the game. Fowler would score on an error during the next at-bat which would get Madison Corrick on base as well. Corrick would extend the Pioneer lead to 2-0 on a double-steal after Anna Myers reached base on a walk. Myers would find her way to home plate before the first inning ended as well thanks to an RBI double from Clara Friend that would push the Pioneer lead to 3-0. Friend's double would be her first of four hits in the game.
 
Malone was held scoreless in the second inning, but added on two more runs in the third to gain a 5-0 advantage. Ashley Beck led the inning off with a single, and eventually scored after a steal, a wild pitch, and a throwing error by the Penn State Schuylkill catcher trying to catch Kendall Reidenbach stealing second. Myers would go on to score two batters later thanks to a sacrifice fly from Kellsea Morrison.
 
The Pioneers kept the bats hot in the fourth inning adding on three more runs and pushing the lead to 8-0. Five straight batters reached base for the Pioneers, starting with a single by Ashley Beck. Beck stole second, and then took third and home on wild pitches. Kendall Reidenbach reached on a walk, and moved over to second on a Clara Friend single. A single by Kellsea Morrison brought Reidenbach home. Allison Mercado joined the hit parade as well, hitting a single to the left side. Emily Beck hit a sacrifice fly to bring Clara Friend home for the third run of the inning.
 
Penn State Schuylkill would score their only run of the game in the top of the fifth in hopes to extend the game, however Malone was able to add on one more run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game after five.
 
Isabella Roberts picked up her first win of the season. Roberts pitched for three innings, giving up no runs, hits or walks. She struck out four batters in those three innings.
 
Up Next
 
The Pioneers will take on William Woods at 9:30 am on Wednesday, and will take on Waldorf at 1:30.