The Malone Pioneers softball team won both games of a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday against the Salem University Tigers. The Pioneers were victorious in game one by a score of 5-1 and won game two 10-3.
 
Malone is now 12-8 overall as they head into tomorrow's conference games against Cedarville University. Salem falls to 7-21 on the season.
 
Game One Recap:
The Pioneers threatened to score in the first, but a key double play turned by the Tiger infield, cutting down Bailey Byers at home after throwing out Serena Tucciarelli at first, prevented a run from crossing.
 
A hit parade came in the third inning for Malone, recording five hits and four runs total. Erika Johnson walked, followed by a Madison Corrick single put runners on, then Malone hit four consecutive singles up the middle. April Howser, Serena Tucciarelli and Kelsey Byers drove in runs to make it 4-0 Pioneers after three.
 
Pitcher Kelsey Byers struck out the side in the top of the fourth, and in the bottom, Erika Johnson hit an inside-the-park homerun to the right field fence to give Malone an insurance run. Byers went five strong shutout innings, striking out eight batters and only allowing three hits.
 
Salem would score their only run of the game in the sixth off a homerun to center field. In relief, Samantha Fruchey threw two innings, allowed the single run and two hits.
 
Salem would put two runners on in the top of the seventh, but were unable to scratch across any runs and the final score would remain 5-1.
 
Kelsey Byers secured her tenth win of the season in the circle (10-3).
 
Game Two Recap:
After a scoreless first inning, Salem struck gold in the second. The first two Tiger hitters reached base on singles. The Pioneer defense stood tall and looked to get out of the jam, but a pair of two out base knocks allowed two runners to score.
 
In the bottom of the third, April Howser hit a loud solo homerun over the left center field fence to make the score 2-1 Salem. The homerun is the first of the freshman's collegiate career, as well as her first RBI of the season.
 
From the final out in the top of the third to the end of the fifth, pitcher Allyson Gruen forced seven consecutive groundouts to keep the Tiger offense at bay. The streak included a three pitch inning in the fourth with two groundouts to Caley Ritts at second base and one Serena Tucciarelli at shortstop. The trio of Gruen, Ritts and Tucciarelli accounted for 12 of the 13 defensive assists in the game.
 
The Pioneers would tie and take the lead in the bottom of the fifth with clutch two out hitting. With Bailey Byers on third after a triple down the right field line, Serena Tucciarelli drove her in with a triple of her own. Morgan Sampsel followed that with a two out base knock to make it 3-2 Pioneers.
 
Anissa Seese kept the rally going with a hit and pinch hitter Megan Labut drew a walk (her first career base on balls) to load the bases, but Malone could not take advantage and left the bases loaded.
 
Salem would perform some two out magic themselves, as a runner scored from second on a single to tie the game at 3.
 
Malone would take advantage of the opportunity to hit with runners in scoring position the next inning, unloading a seven spot on the Tigers to put the game out of reach. The first five Pioneer hitters connected for singles in the inning, including RBIs from Bailey Byers, April Howser and Serena Tucciarelli. Anissa Seese hit a two RBI single two batters later to make the score 8-3.
 
Pinch hitter Kendall Reidenbach hit a ground ball up the middle that scored a ninth run for Malone and Meghan Gabriel hit an RBI single up the middle to make the score 10-3 after six. The at-bat included her first career hit and RBI.
 
Gruen slammed the door in the seventh, going 1-2-3 in the inning and collecting her first win (1-0) of the season on the complete game. In total, Gruen allowed three runs and scattered seven hits, but kept the ball on the ground with 14 ground ball outs in the game.
 
Totals:
- April Howser finished 4-for-8 on the day with a homerun, four RBIs and three runs
- Madison Corrick batted 5-for-8 with two runs and a double
- Serena Tucciarelli swung the bat well, going 4-for-8 with four RBIs, three runs and a triple
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers return to conference play tomorrow, April 3, as they take on the Cedarville Yellow Jackets at home. The doubleheader will begin at 2 pm!