NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Monday was Opening Day of the 2022 softball season for the Malone University Pioneers. 

MU opened up play in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic with games against Iowa Wesleyan University and Rochester University. 

The Pioneers (2-0, 0-0 G-MAC) scored an 8-4 win over the Tigers (0-5, 0-0 CCAC) in the opener, and then followed with a 5-1 victory over the Warriors (0-1, 0-0 WHAC) in the second game of the afternoon. 

Game 1 vs Iowa Wesleyan Highlights
After Elizabeth Dyke worked around two base runners to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard in the top of the first, Lexi Betz scored the season's first run for Malone in the bottom half of the inning. 

The Pioneers then added two more runs in their half of the second inning on two hits and a IWU error. 

Mackenzie Frantz's RBI single in the third made it 4-0 in favor of Malone, and April Howser came around to score on a Tiger error in the fourth to put MU on top 5-0. 

The Tigers threatened in the top of the sixth inning, getting two runs on just one hit to make it a 5-2 game. 

However, the Pioneers put it out of reach in the bottom of the sixth. Mikayla Kesel cleared the bases on a double to put Malone up 8-2. 

IWU plated two more runs in the top of the seventh, but Adrianna McKelley worked out of the jam to close the door on the 8-4 Pioneer win.

Game 2 vs Rochester University Highlights
Malone struck first in the second game of the day as well. 

April Howser laced a RBI single into center field to score Lexi Betz, and make it 1-0 Malone in the bottom of the first inning. 

The Pioneers started to break the game open in the third when Howser doubled home both Betz and Erika Johnson. She came around to score later in the inning on a Rochester error to make it 4-0. 

That would have been plenty of run support for starting pitcher Jensen Miller who allowed just one Warrior runner to cross home plate. 

Malone's offense did not let up however. 

After RU did get their lone run of the game in the top of the fifth, the Pioneers answered right back with a RBI by Johnson in the bottom half to make it 5-1. 

That score held true over the final two innings of softball to give Malone their second win of the day. 

PIONEER POINTS

• Elizabeth Dyke got the start in the circle in the opener, and turned in three innings of scoreless ball. 
• Kelsey Byers was credited with the game one win after pitching three innings in relief. She struck out seven batters.
• Jensen Miller tossed a complete game against Rochester to earn the win. 
• April Howser led Malone's offense with five hits on the day. She tied Mikayla Kesel for a team-high three RBIs. 
• Lexi Betz had three hits, all three of them went for extra bases. She also scored a team-high five runs. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Pioneers return to the field tomorrow for two more games. Malone will play Lincoln College at 11:30 a.m. and Keiser University at 5:30 p.m.

Both games will be played on Field #3 at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.