The Malone University baseball team extended its win streak to six straight with a doubleheader sweep of rival Walsh University Wednesday afternoon in North Canton. Pitching dominated in a 2-0 victory over the Cavaliers in a nine-inning series opener before Malone prevailed 14-13 in a seven-inning slugfest in game two.
 
Now halfway through the season, Malone sports a 16-10 overall record and a 6-4 mark in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Walsh, meanwhile, fell to 7-12 on the year and 2-4 in the G-MAC.
 
Game One Recap
Looking like he did last year when he was an All-Midwest Region selection, starting pitcher Eric Mullet was outstanding in the nine-inning victory. Mullet (3-2) pitched a season-high eight innings of shutout baseball, carving up a potent Walsh lineup with five strikeouts and just five hits allowed.
 
Sophomore reliever Clay Cooper worked around a one-out single in the ninth to preserve a 2-0 shutout and record his second save of the season. The shutout was the second of the year for the Pioneers.
 
Offensively, Malone collected eight hits on the day, none bigger than a two-run blast by senior catcher Matt Noel in the of the sixth inning. Noel's round-tripper was just the second of his career. His first homer also came at Walsh during his sophomore season in 2017.
 
Turner Hill added two singles and scored Malone's other run.
 
Game Two Recap
A wild game two, in which the two teams combined for 28 hits in seven innings, was off to a promising start for the Pioneers when Matt Noel clobbered his second homerun of the day in the top of the first inning to give the Malone a 2-0 lead.
 
After Walsh got a run back in the bottom of the first, Malone exploded for 10 runs over the next two innings, including seven in the top half of the second. A two-run single by Tyson Gingerich past the shortstop put Malone up 4-1 before Zach Mottice followed with a single to center to plate another.
 
Following an infield single by Turner Hill, which loaded the bases, Noel chased home the fourth run of the inning with a groundout. Moments later, Josh Haygood smoked a two-run triple to deep centerfield and would later score on an Austin White RBI single to center.
 
With Malone leading 9-1 in the top of the third, number nine hitter Cade Mottice delivered his first collegiate homerun, a solo shot down the line in left, to make it a 10-1 game. Later in the inning, Noel put the Pioneers up 12-1 with a two-run double to center.
 
Even after giving up runs in the fourth and fifth innings, Malone maintained a comfortable 12-3 lead going into the top of the sixth. The visitors got both of their runs back when Haygood crushed a Walsh offering over the fence and into the trees in right to stretch the lead back to 11.
 
Down 14-3 heading into their final two at-bats, the Cavaliers battled back with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth before eventually stranding the bases loaded. After sitting Malone down in order in the top of the seventh, Walsh used four hits and walk to score three runs in the bottom of the frame and cut the deficit to 14-13. With nobody out, the game-tying run on third, and the game-winning run on second, Malone and reliever Clay Cooper beared down to win it.
 
Following a swing-and-a-miss strikeout, the Pioneers intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases and create a force at home. Still with one out in the inning, Cooper spotted a 2-2 fastball on the inside corner to retire the next batter looking and then induced a fly ball out to centerfield to preserve an exciting 14-13 rivalry win.
 
While Cooper picked up his second save of the day, starting pitcher Clyde Yoder earned his fifth win of the season. Yoder (5-1) allowed three runs (two earned) over 4.1 innings, striking out three.
 
Five different Pioneers collected at least two hits, including Matt Noel, who finished with three hits and a season-high five RBI. Josh Haygood added two hits, two runs, and four RBI while Tyson Gingerich provided two hits, two runs, and two RBI. Zach Mottice and Cade Mottice each tallied two hits while Turner Hill scored three times.
 
Up Next
Malone will play a home-and-home four-game series this weekend with Lake Erie College. The Pioneers visit Painesville on Saturday, March 30th for two games before hosting the Storm in a doubleheader on March 31st.