Redshirt sophomore
Clyde Yoder struck out a career-high 10 batters in just five innings on Thursday as the Malone University baseball team opened up the 2019 campaign with an 8-4 victory over West Liberty University on Legacy Field at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio.
Recap
After spotting the Hilltoppers a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, Malone battled back to tie it in bottom half of the frame. Following a one-out double by
Jacob Mottice, an errant throw on his steal of third base led to Malone's first run of the season. Later in the inning,
Turner Hill, who reached via an error, would score the team's second run on a sacrifice fly
Joe Crank.
Making his return to the Malone rotation after missing the second half of 2017 and all of 2018 with injury, Yoder struck out the side in the fourth and registered two more strikeouts in the fifth to finish off an effective afternoon. The righthander allowed just two hits while walking four and striking out 10.
Yoder (1-0) picked up the winning decision when Malone plated the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the fifth. An RBI single by
Matt Noel made it a 3-2 contest before freshman
Josh Haygood delivered his first collegiate hit and RBI with a two-out base knock.
Malone tacked on two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a passed ball and a RBI single from Crank. West Liberty got a run back in the seventh to make it a 6-3 contest, but the Pioneers added runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Jacob Mottice singled in a run in the seventh before an infield error led to a run in the eighth.
West Liberty tallied a run in the ninth, but junior reliever
Tyrus Jones eventually closed the door on an 8-4 victory.
Joe Crank finished with two hits, including a double and two RBI to lead the Pioneer offense.
Jacob Mottice and
Josh Haygood each collected two hits while
Turner Hill scored a pair of runs. Collectively, the Pioneers, who stole 90 bases last season, swiped five bags on Thursday.
Up Next
Malone will play two nine-inning games on Friday, including a 1:00 pm contest against West Liberty and a 4:00 pm contest Quincy.