The Malone University baseball team received a pair of sterling pitching performances and just enough timely offense to earn two 2-1 victories over Midwest Region opponent Davenport University (MI) Friday afternoon at Rollins College's Baseball Week at Alfond Stadium in Winter Park, Florida. With the two wins, Malone now sports a 4-2 record on the season.
 
Game One Recap
Davenport scored its only run off of Pioneer starter Eric Mullet in the top of the second inning when the leadoff man stuck out but reached on strike three in the dirt. Following a stolen base and an RBI single, the Panthers would lead for the majority of the contest.
 
The Pioneers, who were shutout in each of their previous two games, were held scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning. Facing Panther senior righthander Evan Marquardt, a 20th round pick by the Cincinnati Reds organization in the 2018 MLB Draft, senior first baseman Austin White led off the final inning with a single to put Malone in business.
 
Looking to move the potential tying run into scoring position, each of the next two batters reached via bunts, loading the bases with nobody out. After a lengthy battle at the plate, Pioneer freshman shortstop Tyson Gingerich clubbed a deep fly ball to center, allowing pinch runner Andrew Hanna to score from third and tie it at 1-1.
 
A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases and a fly ball out in foul territory brought freshman Josh Haygood up to the plate with two outs a chance to win it. Five pitches later, Haygood drew a walk-off walk to force in Clay Wisner for the game-winning run.
 
Wisner recorded two of Malone's five hits in the victory while Mullet (1-1) earned the decision on the mound. The junior righthander was outstanding, allowing just three hits and a pair of walks while striking out eight over the seven-inning complete game. Marquardt struck out nine in the loss for the Panthers.
 
Game Two Recap
Malone managed just three hits in the second game, including two in the bottom of the second inning. A one-out single by Clay Wisner preceded a double by Tyson Gingerich, which marked the first extra-base hit of his career. Both runners came in to score on a double suicide squeeze bunt by Bryan Yoder.
 
Those two runs would be enough as Yoder's older brother Clyde Yoder (2-0) allowed a lone run in the top of the fifth to account for the Panthers' scoring. The elder Yoder surrendered just three hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings. Sophomore lefty Clay Cooper worked the sixth and seventh innings to earn his first collegiate save.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers take on G-MAC foe Tiffin on Saturday at Rollins College at 11:00 am before squaring off with Davenport again at 2:30 pm.