CANTON -- Northeast Ohio finally blessed the Malone University softball team with perfect weather on Saturday for the Pioneers' Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) doubleheader with crosstown rival Walsh University.
Unfortunately the result on the field was less than perfect as the visiting Cavaliers (9-19, 5-11 G-MAC) swept the doubleheader from Malone (6-20, 2-13 G-MAC) by final scores of 9-0 and 13-4.
Game 1 Highlights
Neither offense scored in the opening inning, but Walsh put up four runs on three hits and one MU error in the top of the second.
Malone's offensive struggles continued throughout the game.
The Cavaliers added five runs on six hits in the top of the fourth, and then held the Pioneers scoreless the rest of the way to win the opener 9-0 via the run-rule.
Game 2 Highlights
Walsh opened up the scoring in the second game with a pair of runs in the top of the first, however the Pioneers quickly answered.
Lexi Betz came through with a two-out single in the bottom of the first inning to plate
Lauren Bennett for Malone's first run of the afternoon.
Jensen Miller kept the Cavaliers off of the scoreboard in the top of the second, and the Pioneers quickly went to work on tying the game in the bottom half.
Malone loaded the bases on a
Reagan Smith walk and back-to-back singles by both
Emily Betts and
Erika Johnson. With two outs in the inning
April Howser singled to center to bring home the tying run.
Miller tossed another zero in the top of third, and the MU bats stayed hot in their half of the inning.
Once again MU loaded the bases to start, this time on singles by
Lexi Betz,
Elizabeth Dyke, and
Reagan Smith.
Emily Betts drew a one-out walk to bring home Betz and put Malone up 3-2.
The Cavaliers broke through for three runs in the fifth.
The Pioneers got one of those runs back on a
Lexi Betz home run, but Walsh put eight runs on the board in the top of the sixth to come away with the 13-4 run-rule victory.
PIONEER POINTS
WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone is scheduled to travel to Ursuline College on Tuesday for a conference doubleheader with the Arrows.
First pitch from Pepper Pike is set for 12:00 p.m.
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
