The Malone University softball team won two games against Ohio Valley on Saturday. With their wins on Saturday, the Pioneers have eclipsed their win total from the 2016 season. Malone won the first game 1-0, and won game two 8-5.
 
Game One Recap
 
Allyson Gruen had a stellar performance from the pitching circle in a game where a stellar performance was exactly what was needed. Gruen pitched a complete game shutout, striking out six batters along the way.
 
The Pioneers' lone run came in the fifth inning. Caley Ritts doubled to left field, before scoring on a single by Mikayla Fowler for the 1-0 advantage.
 
Ohio Valley threatened in the bottom half of the inning, moving a runner to third base. However, Gruen and the Pioneer defense were able to get out of the inning without allowing Ohio Valley to tie the game up.
 
Game Two Recap
 
After a game one that would consist of just one run, the two teams' offenses picked up in a big way to combine for thirteen runs in game two.
 
The Pioneers took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning after an Ohio Valley error scored Kendall Reidenbach and put Mikayla Fowler in scoring position for Maria Mokler, who delivered and brought Fowler home.
 
Ohio Valley answered back quickly in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 3-0 advantage over the Pioneers on three hits in the inning. However, Malone bounced back in the top of the fourth to regain their lead. After Caley Ritts scored on a grounder from Madison Corrick, Mikayla Fowler crossed the plate for the go-ahead run on a bases loaded walk to Anna Myers.
 
Ohio Valley would get a bases-loaded walk to bring in a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game up at four runs apiece.
 
Malone broke the game wide open in the sixth, exploding for four runs in the inning. Anna Myers hit a double to left field, scoring Madison Corrick and Shelby Hulin and taking the 6-4 lead. Emily Beck answered with a double of her own, scoring Myers and pushing the lead to 7-4. Ashley Beck followed Emily with an RBI single and the 8-4 advantage.
 
Ohio Valley tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh, but could not answer the huge sixth inning by the Pioneer offense.
 
Up Next
 
The Pioneers will travel to Ursuline for a double-header on Tuesday.