The Malone University softball team kicked off their season on Sunday afternoon in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Pioneers started off their season on a high note, winning their first contest 9-0 against Ohio Valley. The team fell to Walsh 8-6 in their second game of the day, bringing their record to 1-1 after day one of the 2018 season.
 

Game One Recap

Allyson Gruen pitched four shutout innings before handing over pitching duties to Alexis Burke. Burke finished the game off with two shutout innings of her own.

After a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch for Anna Myers, Serena Tucciarelli knocked in Madison Corrick and Ashley Beck to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Tucciarelli went 2 for 4 for three RBIs in her Pioneer debut.

The Pioneers would blow things open in the fourth inning, scoring four runs on four hits and three Ohio Valley errors. The inning was sparked by Tucciarelli reaching and advancing two second on a fielding error, then moving to third on a passed ball. Emily Beck doubled to right-center to bring Tucciarelli home. Beck went 2 for 4 with two RBIs in the game.

Again in the fifth inning, Tucciarelli would reach on an error, and score on an Emily Beck double. The Pioneers would add two more runs in the sixth and keep Ohio Valley off the board to end the game in six innings.

Game Two Recap

The Pioneers' offensive production continue over into their second game of the day. Malone took an early 1-0 lead over the Cavaliers in the top of the first inning on a run by Madison Corrick. Corrick led off the game with a single and made it home on a Walsh error.

Walsh would answer back with two runs of their own in the second half of the first inning. Malone would go scoreless over the next three innings, while Walsh would add a run in the third and another in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead over Malone.

The Pioneers would rally back in the top of the fifth inning, scoring four runs to take a 5-4 lead. Nicole Ferrara led the inning off with an infield single. Ferrrara would score on a single to right field by Ashley Beck. Beck would cross home plate, cutting Walsh's lead to 4-3 on a single by Tucciarelli. A big single to center by Emily Beck would score Tucciarelli and Anna Myers, giving Malone the 5-4 advantage.

Walsh answered back in the bottom of the sixth inning with four runs of their own to take an 8-5 lead.

Malone added on one more run in the seventh to cut the lead to 8-6, but could not finish the rally.

Nicole Ferrara went 2 for 4 in the game with two RBIs. Emily Beck went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

Up Next

Malone will be back in action on Monday, when they will take on Briar Cliff at 1:30 and Cardinal Stritch at 3:30.