CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University softball team topped Carlow University in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon 4-1 in game one and 11-3 in game two. Pitching was the standout in game one, with both teams needing to manufacture runs when players reached base. Game two, however, was the opposite with the teams combining for 20 hits in the run-rule victory for the Pioneers.
 
In the top of the third inning in game one, junior Kelsey Byers struck out the opposing pitcher for the Celtics to notch her 365th career strikeout, breaking the career record set by Heather Jones in her time at Malone from 2003-2006.
 
GAME ONE RECAP:
Bailey Byers and Erika Johnson both hit infield singles in the first inning, but an unlucky line drive was collected by the first baseman for a key inning-ending double play for Carlow. Kelsey Byers kept the Celtics hitless until the third inning when a hitter reached on a bunt single. Carlow threatened to score in the top of the third with the bases loaded, but Byers was able to work out of it.
 
The Pioneers threatened to score as well in the bottom of the fourth, but were turned away in the same manner by the Carlow pitcher. A walk by Lexi Betz, and a pair of singles from Mikayla Kesel and Elizabeth Dyke put three ducks on the pond, but all were left on.
 
The first runs of the game were scored in the fifth. Carlow took the lead with a sacrifice fly, but Malone responded with a three-spot in the bottom half. Amber Burick scored on an errant throw to tie the game, and an April Howser two RBI double gave the Pioneers their first lead of the game.
 
Bailey Byers drove in an insurance run to make it 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth, and Kelsey Byers secured her 17th victory of the season with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
 
GAME TWO RECAP:
Jensen Miller made her way to the circle for game two against the Celtics, and pitched a perfect top of the first with two putouts herself and a strikeout to end the inning. Bailey Byers gave the Pioneers an early lead once again with a leadoff homerun. Malone recorded two more hits and took advantage of two errors in the inning to claim a 4-0 advantage.
 
Miller continued to deal, throwing up zero's in the second and third innings before getting even more room to breathe from the offense in the third. Singles from Mikayla Kesel, Elizabeth Dyke and Amber Burick loaded the bases for the nine-hole hitter Emily Betts. Betts singled into center field and brought home two. An infield single from Bailey Byers allowed a seventh run to come across for the home team.
 
RBIs from Kesel and Dyke increased the lead to 9-0 for Malone in the fourth. With their backs against the wall, Carlow scored three runs to temporarily avoid the run rule loss.
 
Malone would strike in the bottom half of the fifth inning to end the game. Starting at the top of the order, Bailey Byers and Erika Johnson singled, stole a base and Byers scored on a wild pitch. With Johnson standing on third, Lexi Betz poked a ball just in front of the left fielder to bring home the game-clinching run.
 
Jensen Miller threw all five innings in the complete game victory. The 2-0 sophomore struck out three and surrendered two earned runs on six hits.
 
PIONEER POINTS:

• Kelsey Byers threw seven innings in game one, struck out eight, and allowed just one unearned run on three hits. Byers is 17-6 on the season and threw her 17th complete game on Tuesday.
• Bailey Byers continued her run of multi-hit games with five combined hits in the doubleheader sweep. Byers was 2-for-4 with two singles in game one and 3-for-4 in game two with a homerun and two singles on her way to extending the streak to eight games. Byers drove in three and scored two on Tuesday.
• April Howser's string of games reaching base also continued with a one hit in three at-bats in both. It's now 23 consecutive games for the junior on the basepaths.
• Amber Burick was 2-for-3 in games one and two and scored three total runs.
• Elizabeth Dyke went a perfect 3-for-3 in game two with an RBI and two runs scored.

 
UP NEXT:
Malone is in action again on Saturday, April 24 when the Pioneers travel to North Canton, Ohio to face the Walsh Cavaliers. The G-MAC doubleheader will begin at 1 pm.