CANTON -- The Malone University softball program celebrated their seniors and graduating players prior to a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) doubleheader against the Ashland University Eagles on Friday. 

Mikayla Kesel, Glendy Bergdorf, Erika Johnson, Lauren Bennett, Emily Betts, Mackenzie Frantz, Morgan Wilhelm, April Howser, Kelsey Byers, and Lexi Betz were all honored in a ceremony prior to first pitch. 

Once everyone's attention shifted to the games at hand, Ashland (11-22, 5-15 G-MAC) came away with the doubleheader sweep of the Pioneers (6-24, 2-17 G-MAC) by final scores of 2-1 and 6-5.

Game 1 Highlights
Senior Glendy Bergdorf got the start in the pitcher's circle, and had the Ashland batters off balance for the most of the afternoon. 

Unfortunately the Eagles were able to match Malone zero for zero through the first four innings. 

Ashland scored the game's first run on a RBI double in the top of the fifth.

The Eagles made it a 2-0 game with another RBI double in the sixth.

Senior Mackenzie Frantz came through with a RBI single for the Pioneers in the seventh, but Malone's rally just came up short. 

Ashland ended the game on a lineout to strand the tying and game winning runs on base. 

Game 2 Highlights
The Eagles opened up the game with two runs on four hits in the top of the first. 

However, it did not take long for the Pioneers to answer. 

In the bottom of the first Frantz reached base on a out-single. Just one batter later senior Lauren Bennett launched her third home run of the season to tie the game at 2-2. 

Jensen Miller kept Ashland off the scoreboard for the next two innings, but in the fourth AU went ahead 4-2 after plating two runs on two hits.

The Eagles pushed their advantage out to 6-2 in the fifth with two more runs on a total of three hits. 

Malone rallied back in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of their own. Frantz singled home Reagan Smith. Senior Emily Betts also scored on a wild pitch in the inning to make it 6-4. 

Adrianna McKelley, who had entered from the bullpen in the fifth, kept Ashland scoreless in both the sixth and seventh innings. 

Reagan Smith led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a home run. Senior Erika Johnson's one-out single got the tying run on base for Malone, but unfortunately the rally fell short as Ashland held on for the 6-5 win.

PIONEER POINTS

• Erika Johnson and Mackenzie Frantz each had four hits apiece in the doubleheader. Frantz tied Lauren Bennett for a team-high two RBIs on the day.
• Reagan Smith was the other Pioneer with a multi-hit afternoon. She finished with three.
• Elizabeth Dyke and Adrianna McKelley each had scoreless appearances out of the bullpen for Malone.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone will close out the 2022 season tomorrow afternoon when they host Cedarville University for a doubleheader. 

First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.