CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University softball team split a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) doubleheader with Kentucky Wesleyan College on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan took game one 7-6, holding the Pioneers off on their comeback effort in the late stages of the game. In a thrilling game two, Malone pulled off a back-and-forth 10-8 win, following a pair of multi-RBI homeruns, including a grand slam from Lauren Bennett to take the Pioneers from down two, to up two.
 
Malone is 7-4-1 in the 2021 season and 1-3 in G-MAC play. This was the first conference doubleheader for Kentucky Wesleyan as they moved to 5-10 on the year and 1-1 in the league.
 
GAME ONE RECAP:
Kentucky Wesleyan took full advantage of mistakes by Malone in the first two innings and plated the game's first four runs. The Panthers hit a towering solo homerun to left center in the third to claim the 4-0 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Pioneers manufactured three runs, all with two outs, after a hit by pitch from Lauren Bennett, singles from Bailey Byers and Erika Johnson, and a double to left center field to drive in two more to cut the gap to 4-3.
 
A single and homerun to lead off the top of the fourth for Kentucky Wesleyan gave their pitcher some room to breathe. Malone got one of those runs back in the bottom half when Mikayla Kesel and Emily Betts doubled on consecutive at bats to lead off the frame. A two out run crossed for the Panthers to make it 7-4 in the top of the fifth inning.
 
April Howser put the game within reach for the Pioneers with a bases loaded single up the middle that brought home pinch runner Amber Burick and Bailey Byers to make the score 7-6, but Malone was unable to scratch across the game tying run in the seventh.
 
GAME TWO RECAP:
The Panthers stacked six first inning singles together and accumulated three runs to start game two. Elizabeth Dyke settled the Panther offense down in the middle innings and it was not until the third inning when the Pioneer bats decided to wake up in a big way to tie the game.
 
Erika Johnson poked a two-out single the other way and Lexi Betz brought her home with a two-run blast. An April Howser double and Mikayla Kesel RBI single capped a string of four consecutive hits to knot the game up at three.
 
Not to be outdone, the Panthers hit four two-out singles to plate three of their own in the fourth and go up 6-3. Amber Burick singled the other way and was driven in by Bailey Byers with a double that just stayed fair down the left field line in the bottom half to make it 6-4.
 
Adrianna McKelley entered the circle for Malone in the fifth inning to do the pitching and worked a scoreless inning. A walk, single and fielding error loaded the bases for the Pioneers offensively and Lauren Bennett hit a flyball that sailed over the left field fence for a grand slam to take the first lead of the afternoon for the home team.
 
Right away in the top of the sixth, Kentucky Wesleyan tied the game at eight, resulting in Kelsey Byers retaking the pitching duties. With the go ahead run standing on third, Byers struck out two to keep the game at a stalemate.
 
Once again in the bottom of the sixth, Malone connected for four straight base hits to score their ninth and tenth runs of the contest. Leadoff hitter Bailey Byers pulled a double into left center field and Erika Johnson beat out an infield single to the left side to put two on. Lexi Betz hit a two run double into left field to give the Pioneers a 10-8 lead, but was thrown out trying to advance to third. April Howser followed that up with a single, but was left on base.
 
Kelsey Byers returned to the circle and surrendered a single and double to the first two hitters, however she struck out the next two and Lexi Betz corralled a popup on the infield to sneak away with the game two victory.
 
PIONEER POINTS:

• Lexi Betz drove in six runs total, including four in the 10-8 game two victory. Betz was 4-for-6 on the day and reached base twice via base on balls. Betz was a perfect 3-for-3 in the tail end game and hit her second career homerun.
• Lauren Bennett's first career homerun came in a key moment for Malone in game two. Bennett's grand slam gave the Pioneers an 8-6 advantage. On the day, she reached base four times with two hits and two walks, along with two runs scored.
• At the top of the order, Bailey Byers and Erika Johnson each had three runs in the doubleheader. They both had three hits apiece on the day.
• At third base, April Howser was 2-for-4 in both games with a double and three singles.

 
UP NEXT:
Malone softball will compete in a nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday versus Salem University. First pitch at Pioneer Softball Field will take place at 3 pm on March 30.