CANTON, Ohio – Malone University and Case Western Reserve University split the final home softball game of the 2021 season on Tuesday afternoon. The Pioneers took game one on a 5-1 linescore and the Spartans claimed victory in the second game 7-5.
Lexi Betz smashed a pair of three-run homeruns to give her 12 this season.
With a 1-1 record in the non-conference affair, Malone sits at 22-9-1 overall and remains 13-7 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). NCAA DIII Case Western Reserve moves to 22-8.
GAME ONE RECAP:
Kelsey Byers, who was named G-MAC Softball Pitcher of the Week for April 19-25, picked up right where she left off by striking out the first five hitters of the game, including a fellow National Player of the Week at the NCAA DIII level, Sarah Miller.
In an early pitcher's duel,
Mikayla Kesel recorded the game's first hit with a single through the left side in the bottom of the second inning. The Pioneers broke the game open in the third with four base hits.
Emily Betts laced a one-out double over the left fielder's head and was on base for an infield single by
Erika Johnson and brought home on a three-run homerun off the bat of
Lexi Betz.
Case Western Reserve manufactured a run in the top of the fifth with the help of a sacrifice bunt and stolen base, but Malone remained on top 3-1.
In the bottom half, the Spartans went to the bullpen and the Pioneers added two more runs.
Lexi Betz singled through the left side to bring in her fourth run of the game.
Mikayla Kesel singled later in the inning to bring in
Erika Johnson and make it 5-1 Malone.
Kelsey Byers faced the tying run in the sixth when the Spartans loaded the bases, but ended the inning with a key strikeout. Byers added two more K's in the seventh as she slammed the door on a 5-1 victory. 15 of the 28 batters faced ended up making the walk back to the dugout for Case Western Reserve in game one.
GAME TWO RECAP:
Doubleheader game two started the opposite as game one. The Spartans notched a run first, taking advantage of an error by the Pioneers. Four consecutive hits on the first four Malone batters allowed the Pioneers to take the lead, highlighted by another long fly from
Lexi Betz.
Malone held a 3-1 advantage until the Spartans plated four unearned runs in the top of the third inning. The teams traded runs over the next inning and a half by way of a
Mikayla Kesel RBI double to score
April Howser and
Erika Johnson sacrifice fly to bring
Lauren Bennett home.
Down 7-5, the Pioneers threatened to tie the game up, but were empty handed in the inning.
April Howser led the fifth off with a double and
Mikayla Kesel reached on an infield single. A wild pitch and
Amber Burick walk loaded the bases, but Case Western Reserve escaped the jam unscathed.
Malone was unable to answer and fell 7-5. Pitcher
Jensen Miller threw a complete game and surrendered just one earned run.
PIONEER POINTS:
- Lexi Betz tallied her ninth and tenth multiple RBI game in 2021 with four in game one and three more in game two and extended her lead in the G-MAC with 46 runs batted in on the year. Betz bumped her slugging percentage up to .871 with the two homerun day.
- The pitching unit of Kelsey Byers and Jensen Miller combined for 14 innings of work without a walk.
- April Howser was 3-for-4 in game two and extended her on-base streak to 27 consecutive games. Howser totaled four bases and scored a run, while also lining a single into center field in game one.
- Mikayla Kesel had multiple hits and an RBI in games one and two. Kesel is now third on the team with a .386 batting average.
UP NEXT:
Malone softball concludes the regular season on Friday with a road doubleheader at Cedarville University.
