CANTON, Ohio – The Malone softball team secured their first Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) wins of the year over Kentucky Wesleyan College on Saturday. The Pioneers (14-4, 2-2 G-MAC) defeated the Panthers (4-19, 0-4 G-MAC) 13-2 in game one and 13-9 in game two.
GAME ONE RECAP:
A seven-run bottom of the second propelled Malone to an early lead that could not be overcome.
Madi Pukansky cleared the bases with a three-run double to start the scoring while
Amber Miller,
Mia Rose and
Marlee Pireu drove in runs as well.
In the third, the Pioneers would add five more to take a 12-0 lead.
Aricka Young and
Faith Yoho recorded their first RBIs of the game in the inning. An RBI single by
Sydney Hillyard that scored
Caylee Selley extended the lead to 13-0.
Rose took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, however it was broken up in the top of the fifth. The shutout would also be lost to get to the 13-2 final score. Rose (6-3) struck out four in five innings of work. Pukansky led the offense with two hits and three RBIs.
Lacie Quarles, Rose, Pireu and Yoho each had multiple hits.
GAME TWO RECAP:
A crooked inning in the bottom of the first gave the Pioneers all the momentum in game two. In total, it would be eight runs on seven hits with two doubles by Young in the frame. Miller reached base twice with a leadoff single and a walk as well.
Two doubles by the Panthers in the top of the second broke the shutout, but
Ella Collinsworth delivered an RBI single to answer. Kentucky Wesleyan would repeat their performance in the third to make the score 9-2. Malone scored three more in the fourth with RBIs by
Gabby Meade, Collinsworth and Miller.
Facing an early conclusion to the game, the Panthers began to hit
Allie Weilnau (8-1) and worked their way back into the game. Kentucky Wesleyan batted around and scored seven in total to cut the Pioneers lead to 12-9. Rose came out of the bullpen and retired the game-tying batter at the plate in the fourth.
A Pireu double led to an insurance run for Malone in the 13-9 victory. Rose locked down her first save of the season with 2.1 innings of shutout softball.
Sidney Conti and Collinsworth had three hits apiece and the team had 17 in total. Miller, Young, Rose, Pireu and
Jessie Crookston were credited with two hits.
UP NEXT:
The Pioneers take on Thomas More University on Tuesday, March 25 in the rescheduled contests from the March 15 rainout.
