CANTON -- On Tueday afternoon the Malone University softball team took to the field on-campus for the first time in the 2022 season. 

The Pioneers welcomed Lourdes University to town for a non-conference doubleheader. 

Malone (4-7, 1-3 G-MAC) dropped the opener to the Gray Wolves (5-8, 0-0 WHAC) by a final score of 7-6. 

The Pioneers rebounded in game two to pick up a 2-1 victory. 

Game 1 Highlights
After a scoreless first frame for both teams, Lourdes opened up the scoring with three runs in the top of the second inning. 

Elizabeth Dyke doubled home both Mackenzie Frantz and Mikayla Kesel in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 3-2 ballgame. 

The Gray Wolves responded by getting both of those runs back on a RBI double of their own in the top of the third. 

April Howser led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. She later scored on a Mikayla Kesel double to pull Malone to within two runs at 5-3. 

Unfortunately Lourdes added single runs to their tally in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a 7-3 lead. However the Pioneers rallied back. 

Back-to-back hits from April Howser, Lexi Betz, and Lauren Bennett made it 7-4, and chased LU's starting pitcher from the game. 

Mikayla Kesel came through with a sacrifice fly to plate Betz, and Mackenzie Frantz singled home Bennett to pull MU to within just one run. 

Unfortunately the Gray Wolves were able end Malone's rally there, and keep the Pioneers off the scoreboard the rest of the way to finish off the 7-6 win. 

Game 2 Highlights
The nightcap of the doubleheader was much more of a pitcher's duel. Malone starter Jensen Miller even carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. 

The Pioneer offense finally came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

MU only recorded one hit in the frame, but base runners put pressure on the defense of Lourdes. Reagan Smith scored on an error, and Erika Johnson made it 2-0 in favor of MU when she came home on a wild pitch. 

The Gray Wolves scored a run in the top of the sixth, but Malone was able to get out of the jam when Reagan Smith threw behind the tying run at third base to end the inning with a pick off. 

Lourdes threatened to tie the game again in the seventh inning. With two runners on base the Gray Wolves singled to left field. The potential tying run was sent around third towards home, but a perfect throw by Erika Johnson cut down the runner at the plate to end the game. 

PIONEER POINTS

• Mikayla Kesel, Elizabeth Dyke, Lauren Bennett, Mackenzie Frantz, and Lexi Betz all had a multi-hit afternoon for the Pioneers. Kesel and Dyke each had a pair of RBIs. 
• Jensen Miller's final line in game two was a complete 7.0 innings pitched with four strikeouts and just the one earned run. 
• Adrianna McKelley pitched 2.2 innings of relief in game one. She allowed just one hit.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone shifts their focus to Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) action this weekend. 

The Pioneers open up conference play on Friday at Trevecca Nazarene University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET.