CANTON, Ohio -- This weekend the Malone University baseball program plays their first home series of the 2021 season. The Pioneers host the Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans in a pair of Great Midwest Athletic Conference doubleheaders.
The Matchup: Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans (4-2, 0-0 G-MAC) vs Malone University Pioneers (7-4, 2-2 G-MAC)
Where: Saturday - Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium | Sunday - Carl Michael Field (Minerva High School)
When: Saturday - 1:00 p.m. (DH) | Sunday - 1:00 p.m. (DH)
Saturday: Live Stats
Sunday: Live Stats | Live Video
MALONE-TREVECCA ALL-TIME SERIES
These two teams have met just 13 times prior to this weekend. Trevecca holds a 9-4 lead in the overall series. The Trojans swept a four-game series from Malone when they last met in March of 2019.
The last win for Malone was a 1-0 victory in a 2017 G-MAC Tournament elimination game.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PIONEERS
- As a staff, Malone's pitchers lead the G-MAC with a 3.22 ERA. The Pioneers have struck out 92 batters in 81.0 innings pitched. Clay Cooper leads the way with 19 Ks over three appearances and 11.2 IP.
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As a team the Pioneers are hitting. 245. Tyson Gingerich and Jake Aleman lead Malone each with a .333 batting average. Gingerich has a team-high12 hits, and he has also stole 11 bases this season. He also ranks sixth in the G-MAC with 13 runs scored.
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Joe Crank and Evan Balzano are tied with a team-high 7 RBIs apiece. That number is top-20 in the conference. They each had one RBI in that weekend's series at Findlay.
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Clay Cooper ranks near the top of the G-MAC in several statistical categories. 1.54 ERA (third), .146 opposing batting average (fourth), and 19 strikeouts (ninth).
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This year's baseball team is truly chasing history. Head Coach Tom Crank enters this weekend's series with 511 career wins. He is just 10 wins away from tying Bob Starcher for the most coaching wins all-time in Malone University history.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
Trevecca enters this weekend off of back-to-back losses to Davenport University. Prior to that the Trojans had swept the University of Southern Indiana to open the season. This weekend will be the opening G-MAC series for TNU.
Ethan Harrison leads TNU with a .500 batting average. Right-hander Drew Pierce is 2-0 on the mound with a 0.79 ERA and 12 Ks in 11.1 IP.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Pioneers are back at home next weekend when they host Hillsdale College. Much like this weekend's series, Saturday's doubleheader against the Chargers will be played at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium, and Sunday's doubleheader will be played at Minerva High School's facility.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Malone University athletic programs this year follow the Pioneers on Twitter and Instagram, like Malone University Athletics on Facebook or visit malonepioneers.com.
