CANTON -- The Malone University softball team wrapped up the 2022 season on Saturday with a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) doubleheader against the Cedarville University Yellow Jackets.

The Pioneers (7-25, 3-18 G-MAC) took the opener by a final score of 4-1. The Yellow Jackets (24-19, 9-13 G-MAC) won game two 10-6 to split the doubleheader. 

Game 1 Highlights
Senior Glendy Bergdorf made her fourth start of the season in the pitcher's circle. The Yellow Jackets scored first on a RBI double in the second inning, but that was the only run that she allowed en route to the first win of her Malone University career. 

After the run scoring double in the second, Bergdorf only allowed two more hits the rest of the game. 

The Yellow Jacket starter, Casey Bertke, carried a perfect game into the fifth inning before a two-out walk to Reagan Smith gave Malone their first base runner. The Pioneers could not capitalize on that opportunity, but the game changed in the sixth. 

After Bergdorf retired CU in order in the top half of the inning Malone's offense went to work in the bottom half. 

The Pioneers recorded four hits, and took advantage of two Yellow Jacket defensive miscues to put four runs on the board. Mackenzie Frantz and Lexi Betz each had a RBI in the inning, while Lauren Bennett drove in two to help put Malone up 4-1. 

Bergdorf retired the side in order in the top of the seventh inning to polish off the 4-1 win for the Pioneers. 

Game 2 Highlights
The second game was a slugfest as both teams combined for a total of 28 hits. 

Lauren Bennett got things going for Malone with a RBI double to plate Erika Johnson in the bottom of the first. 

Unfortunately Cedarville countered with six runs on five hits in the top of the third inning to take a 6-1 lead. 

The Pioneers rallied back with two runs in their half of the inning. Lexi Betz doubled home Mackenzie Frantz. Reagan Smith followed with a single into right center to plate Betz and make it 6-3. 

The Jackets put another tally on the board in the fifth, but the Malone really made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth. 

Claire Henige took advantage of a Cedarville throwing error to score a run. Later on in the inning Mikayla Kesel's double to left center allowed both Frantz and Johnson to score and bring the Pioneers to within just one run at 7-6. 

Unfortunately CU got all three of those runs back in the top of the seventh inning. 

Malone loaded the bases in their last at bat, but could not break through for a run as Cedarville held on for the 10-6 win. 

PIONEER POINTS

• Mikayla Kesel, Erika Johnson, and Lauren Bennett each had three hits on the afternoon for the Pioneers. Bennett led the team with three RBIs. She finishes the season as the team leader with 21 runs driven in. 
• Reagan Smith, Emily Betts, and Lexi Betz also each had a multi-hit day. 
• Glendy Bergdorf hurled a complete game to pick up the win in the first game.