CANTON, Ohio -- After winning three out of their last five games, and enjoying their bye week from Great Midwest Athletic Conference play, the Malone University baseball team is back in action this weekend. The Pioneers are set to host the Lake Erie College Storm in what will be the final home series of the 2021 season.
The entire series will be played at Louisville High School.
The Matchup: Lake Erie College Storm (4-21, 2-16 G-MAC) vs Malone University Pioneers (12-16, 6-14 G-MAC)
Where: Louisville, Ohio - Louisville High School "Field of Dreams
When: Friday - 1:00 p.m. (DH) | Saturday - 10:00 a.m. (DH)
Live Stats: Great Midwest Digital Network
Live Video: Great Midwest Digital Network
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
Malone University is required to abide by Louisville High School's COVID-19 guidelines.
All spectators are required to wear a mask, only sit with members of their groups and families, and remain socially distant from other groups and families.
MALONE-LAKE ERIE ALL-TIME SERIES
These two teams have met just 25 times prior to this weekend's series, with the Pioneers dominating the all-time series 17-8.
Malone swept all four games from Lake Erie in 2019. The last win for the Storm came in May of 2018 when they took one game out of a three-game series.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PIONEERS
-
In their last time out, back on April 14, Malone beat the University of Akron 11-5. For the Pioneers, it was their first win over the Zips since May of 2006.
-
Clyde Yoder picked up the win on the mound. He is now tied with Clay Cooper for the team lead with three wins each. Both players have perfect 3-0 pitching records.
-
Malone's pitching staff is right in the middle of the G-MAC with a 5.61 team ERA, but they lead the league with 237 strikeouts. Clay Cooper sits tops in the conference with a 2.57 ERA. He also leads the Pioneers with 49 strikeouts this season.
-
Offensively, Tyson Gingerich (.343) and Jake Aleman (.319) are leading the way for Malone. Gingerich is second in the conference with 21 stolen bases.
-
In between Saturday's doubleheader the Pioneers will hold their Senior Day celebration. From the 2020 squad: Zach Mottice, Chandler Stahl, Shawn Mills, Christian Specht, Trey Davis, and Adam Studer will all be honored alongside this year's group of seniors: Clay Cooper, Joe Crank, Andrew Hanna, Tyrus Jones, Stone King, James Kontur, Braun Miller, Eric Mullet, Steven Tome, Tommy Walker, Joe Watts, Bryan Yoder, and Clyde Yoder.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
Lake Erie enters play riding a four-game losing streak. The Storm took one game from Walsh last weekend, but were swept in a doubleheader by Trevecca Nazarene on Monday.
LEC's only other three wins this season have come against the University of Southern Indiana, Notre Dame College, and the University of Findlay.
The Storm have a .259 batting average as a team, and they are led by a pair of seniors Jesse Barrios and Reed Collins who are hitting .365 and .348 respectively.
On the mound, Lake Erie carries a 6.96 team ERA into this weekend's slate. Junior Tyler Bryant has a team-high 50 strikeouts in 35.2 innings pitched.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Pioneers will finish out the remainder of the 2021 regular season on the road. First up is a trip to Ohio Valley University for a four-game series April 30 and May 1.
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.
