MINERVA, Ohio -- The Malone University baseball team concluded their weekend Great Midwest Athletic Conference series with a doubleheader against Trevecca Nazarene on Sunday afternoon.

The doubleheader was played at Carl Michael Field, the home facility of Minerva High School. 

The Trojans (8-2, 4-0 G-MAC) exploded for 17 runs to pick up a win in game one. The Pioneers (7-8, 2-6 G-MAC) brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning of the second game, but TNU was able to hold on for a 6-3 victory.

Game 1 Highlights
Trevecca plated four runs in the top of the 2nd inning to open up the scoring. 

Malone answered right back however. Joe Watts deposited the first pitch he saw over the left field fence for Malone's first homerun of the season. Later in the inning Bryan Yoder singled. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then scored on a double by Evan Balzano to make it a 4-2 game.

Unfortunately for the Pioneers TNU scored the last 13 runs of the game unanswered to win game three of the series 17-2.

Game 2 Highlights
The Trojans picked up right where they left off early on. In the top of the 1st inning Trevecca plated two runs on three hits and one Malone to error to take an early 2-0 lead. 

Starting pitcher Tommy Walker was able to settle in after the early damage, and strand several Trojan base runners to keep it at 2-0 for the next three innings. In both the 2nd and 3rd innings Walker stranded TNU runners in scoring position. 

The Trojans broke through for two more runs on three hits in the 5th to push their lead out to 4-0. 

Tyson Gingerich got Malone on the scoreboard in the 6th inning. He reached on a Trevecca error, and then wrecked havoc on the bases. Gingerich advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. He then stole second base and scored on an errant throw. 

In the top of the 7th TNU got that run back, and added an insurance run to make it a 6-1 game. 

Malone refused to go quietly however. Michael Cook entered from the bullpen to start the 8th inning, and he retired all six batters that he faced in order. 

The Pioneers' offense then went to work in the bottom of the 9th. 

JC Philippi was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Joe Watts and Jake Aleman followed that up with back-to-back base hits to load the bases. With one out in the inning Stone King drew a walk to score Philippi and make it 6-2. Evan Balzano was called on to pinch hit, and he put a ball in play for a fielder's choice that allowed Watts to score and cut the deficit down to 6-3. 

Unfortunately, the late rally came up short as in the next at bat a hard hit ball by Andrew Hanna found a Trevecca glove to end the game. 

PIONEER POINTS

• Tyson Gingerich had the lone multi-hit game on the afternoon for Malone. He was 2-4 with a run scored in game two. His season average now stands at .333, second on the team only to Jake Aleman (.348).

• Anthony Sinicropi made a pinch-hit appearance for Malone in game one, and crushed a double into right-center. That was one of just three extra base hits on the afternoon for the Pioneers.

• Michael Cook's two scoreless frames in game one, including a pair of strikeouts. The right hander has now struck out six batters in 7.0 innings pitched this season.

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.