The Malone University softball team dropped the opening game and was victorious in game two of a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon against Ohio Valley University. The Fighting Scots took game one by a score of 1-0 in nine innings and the Pioneers secured victory in game two 9-4.
 
The split leaves Malone with a 19-15 record overall, 11-11 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Ohio Valley now has a record of 2-17 overall and in the conference.
 
Game One Recap:
Neither team advanced a baserunner past first for the first three innings of play. In the top of the fourth, Bailey Byers hit a double into left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but could not score.
 
The Pioneers hit consecutive singles in the fifth, but left both runners stranded. Byers reached third base again in the sixth after a single, sacrifice bunt by April Howser, and a wild pitch, but again she was left on.
 
After being held scoreless through seven, the Pioneers surrendered a leadoff single, but pitcher Kelsey Byers shut down the Scots hitters 1-2-3 to send the game to extra innings at 0-0.
 
In the top of the eighth, April Howser and Serena Tucciarelli hit back-to-back singles to put runners on, but the Scots defense and pitching held strong again. In the bottom half, Ohio Valley got a runner to third with two outs, but escaped the jam.
 
After getting a 1-2-3 ninth, Ohio Valley prevailed in the bottom of the ninth with a triple and single to win the game 1-0.
 
Kelsey Byers received the loss, sending her record to 16-6 on the year, despite pitching eight innings of shutout softball.
 
Game Two Recap:
Despite not scoring in game one, the Pioneers bats were awake early in game two. Bailey Byers hit a one out bomb to put Malone on the board 1-0 after one.
 
With two runners on, Madison Corrick unloaded a three-run homerun to give Malone a 4-0 cushion after two innings of play. Pitcher Morgan Sampsel dazzled in the first two innings, only allowing one runner via an error.
 
Two unearned runs would come across in the bottom of the third for the Scots, making the score 4-2.
 
Second baseman Caley Ritts drew a walk to start the fourth. Erika Johnson hit a single and steal second to put runners on second and third for Corrick, who blasted her second homerun of the day to give the Pioneers a 7-2 lead.
 
In the top of the sixth, Corrick did more damage by doubling to left field and scoring Nicole Ferrara to make the score 8-2. Emily Betts drove in a run in the seventh as well with an RBI single to make it 9-2.
 
Ohio Valley fought back in their last at-bats, getting four straight hits to start the inning and plating two runs, but ultimately fell to Malone with a final score of 9-4.
 
Morgan Sampsel was credited with the win, making her 2-3 on the season. Samantha Fruchey came in and pitched an inning of relief in the game as well.
 
Totals:
- Madison Corrick batted 3-for-8 on the day, 3-for-4 in game two, totaled seven RBIs and two runs scored.  Her seven runs batted in during the finale marked the most for a Pioneer in a single game since 2010 when Kristen Atzenhoefer drove in seven during a win over Carlow University
- Kelsey Byers pitched over eight innings, allowed a single run, scattered five hits and struck out 11 hitters.
- Morgan Sampsel surrendered two runs (both unearned), five hits and one walk over six innings of work and received a win.
- Bailey Byers went 4-for-8 with a run scored and drove in one.
- Emily Betts was 3-for-8 with an RBI on the day.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneer softball team hosts Senior Day this Thursday, April 25 starting at 3 pm against non-conference opponent Ohio Christian University.