The Malone University baseball team lost is non-conference road game at Gannon University by the final score of 9-5 Wednesday afternoon in Erie, Pennsylvania. The loss drops Malone to 23-13 on the season.
 
Recap
The Malone offense was stymied through the first four innings while the Golden Knights opened a 3-0 lead with two runs in the second and a third in the third. The Pioneers scored their first run in the top of the fifth when Tom Eslich scooted home on a wild pitch. Gannon then put up a five spot in the bottom of the fifth to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
 
Trailing by seven, Malone answered with three runs in top of the sixth as Damian Maglione, Eslich, and Jacob Mottice all drove home runs in the inning. The Pioneers inched even closer with a fifth tally in the top of the eighth as Mottice singled in his second run of the afternoon.
 
The Golden Knights tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the frame and went to the ninth leading 9-5. The Pioneers put two men on base in the ninth and had the tying run on deck, but a game-ending double play sealed their fate.
 
Mottice finished with two hits and two RBI to lead the offense while Austin White added two base hits, including a double. Todd Ropp scored twice for Malone. Eight different pitchers toed the rubber in the midweek contest; James Kontur, Cody Ballay, Tyrus Jones, and Jordan Yoder all produced scoreless outings.
 
Up Next
Malone will go to Walsh this weekend for a three-game series beginning with a single nine-inning game on Friday, April 20th at 4:00 pm.