CANTON, Ohio - The Malone University baseball team remained undefeated at 6-0 after beating West Liberty University in two games on Friday. The Pioneers upended the Hilltoppers (0-6) by a game one score of 8-6 and were triumphant 12-4 in game two.
 
GAME ONE RECAP:
Jackson Phelps took the ball in the opening contest of the day and twirled a 1-2-3 top of the first to get Malone started on the right foot. Rafe Bonifay provided run support with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second.
 
The zero remained as Phelps continued to deal, and the Pioneers put up a four-spot in the bottom of the fifth. Shane Coblentz used small ball to create chaos when a suicide squeeze play ended up scoring two after he beat the throw out to first base. A throwing error plated a fourth run for Malone and Reilly Tyna brought home a fifth run via a single the other way to left.
 
A costly error for the Malone defense allowed five unearned runs to score in the sixth and an additional run on the ledger of relief pitcher Landon Homan (2-0) put the Pioneers down 6-5. The key hit for West Liberty was a bases loaded double down the left field line that scored three and put the visitors in front.
 
Even without the momentum, Malone was able to bounce back in their next round of at-bats. Charlie Roberts and Colin Coblentz drew walks and set the table for Shane Coblentz to score one with an RBI single. After that, a double steal gave the Pioneers the lead back and Jake Barker tacked on an insurance run to make it 8-5. Coming in to pitch from second base was Shane Coblentz, who got three straight batters out for his first career save.
 
Shane Coblentz and Barker had multiple hits in game one, with a team-high three RBIs to the former. Zach Root reached base three times, all on walks. Phelps pitched 5.2 innings and did not allow an earned run in his outing. He struck out six and the staff had eight combined.
 
GAME TWO RECAP:
The Hilltoppers started game two strong with three runs on just one hit. The Pioneers got two back in the bottom half via a sacrifice fly from Barker and RBI single off the bat of Chris Munoz. Back-to-back singles by Robert Gumino and Colin Coblentz set up Malone for three more runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead. Shane Coblentz scored one run on a sacrifice fly and two runs were driven in by Ethan Petak with a triple into the right center field gap.
 
The bottom of the third would be more of the same for the offense and would chase the West Liberty starter from the game. Doran Mast singled to the shortstop and Colin Coblentz clubbed a two-run homerun to center to extend the lead to 7-3. The breathing room allowed the Pioneer starter Finn Schmitt (2-0) to settle in and be effective after a tough start. Schmitt finished the day with 4.0 innings pitched, four hits, three runs, five walks and six strikeouts. Ayden Manning and Aston Snyder had shutout innings of relief in the bullpen after Schmitt exited.
 
Malone put up a crooked number in the sixth to further push the lead to 12-3. Layne Keller started the scoring with a single up the middle, followed by a two-run double by Gumino, a sacrifice fly by Colin Coblentz and an infield single for a run by Shane Coblentz. Blake Close pitched the seventh and nailed down the 12-4 win despite surrendering one run.
 
Colin Coblentz was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs from the lead-off spot. Gumino had multiple hits and RBIs as well at 2-for-3 and each of the nine starters got on base once (eight with hits).
 
UP NEXT:
The four-game series with West Liberty concludes on Saturday, February 28. Game three of the series will begin at 12:00 P.M. at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium.