The Malone University softball team split games three and four of their series with Davis & Elkins on Monday, going 2-2 in the series. Davis & Elkins defeated Malone in game one on Monday by a score of 10-3. The Pioneers earned a hard-fought 5-4 victory in the second game.
 
Game One Recap
 
The Senators had five different players with multiple hits on the afternoon, totaling 12 hits that resulted in 10 runs. The visiting team got on the board early and often, scoring in each of the first four innings of the game.
 
The first three batters for Davis & Elkins reached based, capped by an RBI double down the left field line by Danielle Norton. Norton would go on to score on a double from Brittany Wade later in the inning.
 
Down 5-0 going into the bottom of the second inning, the Pioneer offense made an early rally cry. Emily Beck and Mikayla Fowler hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Madison Corrick followed Fowler in the order, and answered the bell with a hard hit triple to right field, scoring Beck and Fowler. Corrick would go on to score on a sacrifice bunt from Kendall Reidenbach, to cut the Senator lead to 5-3.
 
Although Malone got nine hits in the game, the team was unable to put up any more runs on the scoreboard. Davis & Elkins would score a run in the third, three runs in the fourth, and one more run in the sixth to take the 10-3 victory.
 
Game Two Recap
 
Like game one, Davis & Elkins got on the scoreboard early, scoring two runs in the first inning ignited by back-to-back singles to start the game.
 
Mikayla Fowler got things going for the Pioneer offense in the second inning, hitting a two-out triple for Malone's first hit of the game. Fowler scored on the next at-bat on a single up the middle by Caley Ritts.
 
Davis & Elkins answered with a run of their own in the top of the third inning, extending their lead to 3-1. The Pioneers would not be outdone however, and scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the 4-3 lead. Madison Corrick hit a single up the middle and stole second base to move into scoring position. Anna Myers hit a long double to deep centerfield, scoring Corrick on the play. With Myers standing on second representing the tying run, Emily Beck preferred the lead and hit a deep homerun to left field to give the Pioneers the 4-3 advantage.
 
Davis & Elkins tied the game back up at four runs apiece in the top of the fifth inning, but the Pioneers quickly earned their lead back for good in the bottom half of the inning. Anna Myers hit a long single to centerfield. Kennedy Johnson came in to pinch-run for Myers and found her way to second base due to a sacrifice bunt from Emily Beck. Johnson scored from second to give the Pioneers the lead on a passed ball followed by a throwing error by the catcher trying to gun Johnson down at third.
 
The Pioneer defense did their part over the final two innings to hold on for the 5-4 victory.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers will be back in action at home on Tuesday against Point Park. Game one is set to begin at 3:00 p.m.