The Malone University softball team tallied a 1-1 record on Thursday as the team continued competition at the PFX Spring Games in Orlando, Florida. The Pioneers started the day with a narrow 3-2 defeat to Seton Hill University but then bounced back in the finale with a 1-0, walk-off victory over Nyack College.
Malone's record moved to 5-3 following Thursday's games.
Malone vs. Seton Hill Recap
The Pioneers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as
Bailey Byers reached on a one-out single, advanced to third on a double by
April Howser and then scored on a single by sister
Kelsey Byers.
The Griffins evened things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third thanks to a leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly.
Malone regained the lead in the top of the fourth.
Emily Betts was hit by a pitch with one out. After moving to second on a walk from
Erika Johnson, Betts came home to score on double by
Bailey Byers.
Seton Hill pulled ahead in the fifth with a two-out RBI double followed by an RBI single.
Bailey Byers came through with her third hit of the day in the top of the sixth, but Malone was unable to bring her home as the Griffins held on for the 3-2 victory.
Kelsey Byers suffered her first loss of the season (4-1) in the circle despite six solid innings. Byers struck out five and did not walk a batter, surrendering the three runs on six hits.
Bailey Byers went 3-for-4 in the contest with one run scored and one run driven in.
Malone vs. Nyack Recap
Starting pitcher
Morgan Sampsel tossed a complete-game shutout for the Pioneers. Sampsel moved her record to 1-0 on the season after scattering four hits and three walks over seven impressive innings.
The Pioneer offense put runners on base in the fifth and sixth innings before breaking through with a run in the seventh.
Sampsel got things started with a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt from
Kendall Reidenbach and a groundout moved Sampsel to third with two outs.
The sophomore from Norwayne High School then raced home with the winning run on Nyack's infield error.
Malone tallied five hits in the game with singles from
Bailey Byers, Sampsel,
Serena Tucciarelli,
Anissa Seese and Johnson.
Up Next:
Malone will conclude its Florida trip with two more games on Friday. The Pioneers will face Franklin Pierce University at 9:30 am before taking on Concordia University of New York at 11:45 am.