NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- The Malone University softball team welcomed Point Park University to town on Wednesday for a doubleheader.
It was the 2022 home opener for the Pioneers, however the games were played at Goodpasture Stadium on the campus of North Canton Hoover High School.
Malone (3-4, 0-0 G-MAC) dropped game one to the visiting Pioneers 6-2.
Point Park (6-6, 0-0 RSC) won a 14-11 slugfest in the second game to finish up the sweep of the doubleheader.
Game 1 Highlights
Point Park put two runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning to take an early lead.
It took several innings for Malone to find some life in their bats.
Unfortunately PPU continued to add to their lead in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to move ahead 6-0.
With just three outs left to play with, MU went to work in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With one out in the inning
Mackenzie Frantz launched the first home run of her Malone University Pioneer career over the left field fence to get MU on the scoreboard.
Emily Betts,
Lexi Betz, and
Erika Johnson all followed by reaching base safely to load the bases for Malone.
April Howser came through with a sacrifice fly to score Betts and make it a 6-2 game.
Unfortunately MU's rally ended there. Point Park was able to record the final out of the game, and secure the 6-2 win.
Game 2 Highlights
Point Park picked up right where they left off in game one. PPU scored six runs in the first three innings to force Malone to play from behind.
MU was able to break through with three runs in their half of third inning.
Lauren Bennett,
Mikayla Kesel, and
Karlie Duvall each had RBIs in the inning to cut Point Park's lead down to 6-3.
PPU put up another run in the top of the fourth, but Malone was able to match it with a tally of their own in the bottom half.
After
Emily Betts singled to lead off the inning,
Lexi Betz came through with a double over the left fielder's head to bring home Betts and make it a 7-4 game.
Glendy Bergdorf, who entered the pitching circle in relief to start the third inning, worked around a leadoff double in the top of the fifth to hold Point Park scoreless. She also worked out of a jam in the sixth inning to keep the score at 7-4.
Malone's offense completed their comeback effort in the bottom of the sixth.
Lauren Bennett's single into centerfield scored both
Erika Johnson and
Lexi Betz. Later in the inning Bennett scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 7-7.
Unfortunately Point Park scored seven runs on five hits and two Pioneer errors in the top of the seventh inning to regain the lead.
Malone answered with four runs of their own in the bottom half, including a three-run homerun by Bennett, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
Point Park held on for the 14-11 win to complete the doubleheader sweep.
PIONEER POINTS
WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone heads back out on the road this weekend.
Friday the Pioneers will play Mercyhurst University at 12:00 p.m. and Seton Hill University at 4:00 p.m.
On Saturday Malone will play a doubleheader against Seton Hill with the first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.
Every game this weekend will be played on the campus of Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
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
