NORTH CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University softball team swept the road doubleheader against Walsh University on Saturday with a 7-1 game one victory and held on to a 2-1 win in game two. Malone and pitcher Kelsey Byers held Walsh to six combined hits as Byers struck out 15 on the day to claim the single season strikeout record in Malone softball history. The reigning National Player of the Week Bailey Byers also picked up a single-season record with her 13th and 14th homeruns in the game one win.

The Pioneers improve to 21-8-1 and 13-7 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) action. Walsh falls to 18-16 in 2021 and 4-10 in the league.
 
GAME ONE RECAP:
Walsh took an early lead in the bottom of the first with a two-out solo homerun to make it 1-0. The Pioneers immediately got the run back in the top of the second with a single by Mikayla Kesel and RBI double from Elizabeth Dyke. Kelsey Byers shut down the Cavalier offense by striking out the side in the bottom of the second, three of her 12 punchouts in game one.
 
Malone took the lead in the top of the fourth when Lexi Betz scored following a single from Mikayla Kesel. Walsh was able to limit the damage to one in inning four, but next time up, the Pioneers put up a crooked number to solidify their lead.
 
Bailey Byers hit a one-out solo homerun to make it 3-1, Mikayla Kesel knocked a two RBI double into the outfield to bring Erika Johnson and April Howser home, and Elizabeth Dyke singled to score a sixth Malone run.
 
Another solo homerun from Bailey Byers made it 7-1 after six innings of play. Kelsey Byers ended the game by striking out four of the final six Cavalier hitters to come to the dish. In the game, Byers threw seven innings and allowed two hits, one run, zero walks and tallied 12 strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO RECAP:
After back-to-back outs, the Pioneers were able to manufacture a run in the first with three consecutive baserunners. Lexi Betz got a single, followed by an April Howser base on balls. From there, Mikayla Kesel picked up right where she left off in game one with a double that brought home Betz.
 
Lexi Betz cut down the tying run at the plate in the second after Walsh put two runners in scoring position in the inning.
 
The bats went quiet for both teams until April Howser woke them up in a huge way for the road squad. Howser lifted her second homerun of the season over the outfield wall to give Byers some breathing room in the circle.
 
After surrendering a leadoff homerun in the seventh to cut the Malone advantage in half 2-1, Byers went 1-2-3 with a strikeout and two putouts at third by April Howser to put away the weekend sweep.
 
PIONEER POINTS:

• Mikayla Kesel went 4-for-4 in the 7-1 victory with three RBIs and two runs scored. She chipped in with a 1-for-3 effort and an additional RBI in game two.
• Bailey Byers added two more solo homeruns to her record-setting total and reached base on walks in three game two plate appearances.
• Elizabeth Dyke remains hot in the middle of the Pioneer batting order, going 5-for-7 with two RBIs on the day.
• April Howser gave Malone what ended up being the difference-making run with her sixth inning homerun in the game two 2-1 victory.
• Kelsey Byers pitched all 14 innings, struck out 15 while allowing just two runs and six hits and one walk.

 
UP NEXT:
The Pioneers will take on Case Western Reserve in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 27. The games will be at home and first pitch will take place at 3 pm.