The Malone University baseball team took two games from Gannon University in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon in Massillon. The Pioneers benefitted from three homeruns and a superb pitching performance from lefty starter Roscoe Blackburn in a 9-0 win in the opener. Malone then battled back from four runs down in the nightcap to secure a 7-5 triumph and a doubleheader sweep.
 
With the wins, Malone climbed to 24-14 on the season.The Pioneers, now winners of four straight, are 10 games above .500 for their first time since 2012, their last season in the NAIA.
 
Game One Recap
Roscoe Blackburn (3-1) was tremendous on the mound, firing his first career complete game shutout. The southpaw was not only effective but efficient as he needed just 82 pitches to finish the day. Blackburn struck out nine batters while giving up only four hits and a seventh-inning walk. The junior starter, who entered the game with the second-lowest earned run average in DII, lowered his ERA even further to 0.56 through 48.1 innings pitched this season.
 
The Pioneer lineup gave Blackburn plenty of early run support with a three-spot in the bottom of the first. Following a Nate Cobb single and a Joe Crank base on balls, Brenden Wells delivered a three-run bomb over the left centerfield fence. His homerun was the third of the season and the eighth of his career.
 
Malone piled on four more runs in the fourth to open up a 7-0 lead. Freshman designated hitter Michael Mathieu led off the frame with a solo smash to right center to put Malone ahead 4-0. A sacrifice fly from Wells made it 5-0 and a two-run double off the base of the fence from Keanan Locke gave the Pioneers a seven-run advantage.
 
The Pioneers led off the bottom of the fifth with another long ball as Ryan Sarbaugh clubbed his second career homerun.  Malone closed out the scoring three batters later when Zach Mottice plated a run with a double to left center.
 
Led by Keanan Locke's three hits, Malone collected 11 in total. Cobb and Mottice each collected a pair. Wells finished with a season-high four RBI.
 
Game Two Recap
After being held scoreless in the first game, Gannon plated its first run with a solo homer on the second pitch of game two.  Malone would answer in the bottom of the second when Keanan Locke homered to left to tie the game up at 1-1.
 
In the top of the fourth, Gannon would break the tie with four runs. Following a pair of gently-hit infield singles and a walk, the Golden Knights cleared the bases with a three-run double. Another seeing-eye single gave the visitors a 5-1 advantage entering Malone's half of the inning.
 
The Pioneers fought back to tie it with four runs of their own. After loading the bases, the Pioneers employed some station-to-station baseball to eventually knot the game at 5-5. Austin White came through with an RBI single to make it 5-2 before Tom Eslich followed with an RBI groundout to make it 5-3. With runners on second and third, back-to-back infield singles from Zach Mottice and Nate Cobb allowed Malone to even the score.
 
Malone broke the deadlock an inning later when Ryan Sarbaugh drove in the eventual game-winning run on a fielder's choice. The Pioneers tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when Joe Crank delivered a two-out run-scoring single.
 
Leading 7-5 entering the seventh, Malone turned to Gunnar Smeyres to close out the victory. The senior righty worked around a two-out single to record his fifth save of the season.
 
Jordan Knight (2-1) picked up the win after tossing 2.1 scoreless innings, surrendering a lone hit while striking out a pair.
 
Joe Crank led the offense with a pair of hits and a walk. Matt Noel reached base three times (two walks and a single). Locke tied a season-high with three runs scored.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers will be back in action on Thursday with a non-conference doubleheader against Wheeling Jesuit. First pitch for the home series is slated for 12:00 pm. Preview notes are available by clicking here.