The Malone University baseball team fell to 2-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and 12-7 overall after losing both ends of a doubleheader against Trevecca Nazarene University on a windy Saturday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee. The Pioneers suffered a 3-1 walk-off defeat in the nine-inning opener before falling in the nightcap, 4-3, in seven innings.
 
Game One Recap
In an old-fashioned pitchers' duel, both teams were kept in check until Malone scored its only run of the game in the top of the fourth when Todd Ropp, who doubled to deep left center eariier in the inning, scored on an RBI single from freshman third baseman Clay Wisner. The Pioneers put men on base in four of the next five innings, but a couple baserunning miscues combined with solid pitching from the Trojans kept Malone off the board.
 
Except for a leadoff single in the bottom of the third, Malone starting pitcher Eric Mullet was virtually untouchable through the first six innings, totaling nine strikeouts in another terrific performance against Trevecca. The crafty sophomore, who has allowed just two earned runs in 21.1 career innings against the Trojans, surrendered his only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh.
 
A bunt single followed by a throwing error put the leadoff man at second base. The Trojans tied it up one batter later on a RBI single before Mullet eventually got out of the inning without any further damage. He worked around two walks and a single in the eighth before giving way to the bullpen in the ninth.
 
With the wind blowing out in the bottom of the ninth, a one-out walk put the game-winning run on base before a deep shot to left center one batter later gave the Trojans the 3-1 walk-off victory.
 
Mullet took home a no-decision as his final line included one unearned run along with a career-high nine Ks in a career-high eight innings. He walked three and gave up just four singles. Freshman Turner Hill collected his third straight multi-hit game, recording three singles to lead the Malone offense. Wisner finished with two base knocks.
 
Game Two Recap
Another two-run long ball gave the Trojans a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Malone battled back to take the lead with a run in the second and two more in the fourth.
 
Clay Wisner's RBI groundout in the second made it a 2-1 game and his sacrifice fly RBI in the fourth tied it a 2-2. Matt Noel recorded just his second collegiate stolen base in the frame, swiping home on a double steal attempt to put the Pioneers in front 3-2.
 
A leadoff triple in the bottom half of the frame preceded a sacrifice fly that tied the score at 3-3. The Trojans then regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI triple off the base of the centerfield fence.
 
Trailing 4-3 entering their final at-bat in the top of the seventh, the Pioneers used a pair of walks to put runners on first and second with one out, but would come up empty. Trevecca reliever Tyler Burns, who clubbed the game-winning homerun in the first game, came in to retire the final two Malone batters on just two pitches.
 
Malone collected just five hits in the contest, including two each from Noel and Austin White, Pioneer starter Clay Cooper struck out five and allowed just three hits, but two went for extra bases. He earned the no-decision after giving up three runs in four innings.
 
Up Next
Malone is slated to play its home opener in a nine-inning non-conference contest against Wheeling Jesuit on Wednesday, March 21st at 1:00 pm at Jackson High School in Massillon.