HILLSDALE, Mich. - Everything seemed to be clicking for the Malone University baseball team on Friday as the Pioneers defeated Hillsdale College 14-1 in game one, but suffered a 7-4 loss in the second game of the day. Malone is now 12-8 overall and 3-3 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while Hillsdale's record is 8-11 and 4-2 in conference action.
 
GAME ONE RECAP:
A solo homerun by Reilly Tyna to start the top of the second put the Pioneers in front early. Robert Gumino added an RBI single in the frame to make it 2-0. Doran Mast increased the lead to 3-0 with an RBI double in the third.
 
The most damage was done in a nine-run fourth inning. Gumino, Colin Coblentz and Shane Coblentz had three consecutive hits to begin the inning with Tyna and Vincent Alvarez following up their offense with doubles to go up 7-0. A bases loaded walk and hit by pitch drove in runs as well and in his second plate appearance of the fourth, Shane Coblentz cleared the bases with a three-run double.
 
Two-out run-scoring hits by Mast and Charlie Roberts increased the lead to 14-0, more than enough insurance for the starting pitcher Jackson Phelps (2-0). The Chargers were able to breakup the shutout in the fifth, but Phelps was able to complete the run-shortened game and allowed just three hits. Phelps fanned three in the win.
 
Offensively, seven different players had multiple hits, including each of the first five in the lineup. Shane Coblentz (2-for-6) and Tyna (3-for-4) combined for seven of the team's 14 RBIs.
 
GAME TWO RECAP:
Hillsdale scratched across six runs across the first three innings to chase the Malone starter Finn Schmitt (2-1) from the game. Reliever Gage Faraguna entered from the bullpen and settled the Charger offense to allow the Pioneers to attempt a comeback. He allowed just two hits over his four innings on the bump.
 
Malone plated four in the fifth to cut the gap to 6-4. Once again, it was Shane Coblentz with a bases clearing double with the bases loaded that did the most damage. Tyna added an RBI single in the inning as well. Hillsdale increased their lead to 7-4 in the bottom half of the fifth and that score held for the remainder of the seven-inning contest.
 
Tyna was 2-for-3 and the only man with multiple hits in game two, but a 1-for-4 effort with three RBIs and one runs scored for Shane Coblentz was noteworthy.
 
UP NEXT:
The conference series continues on Saturday, March 21 at Hillsdale. First pitch is set for 12:00 P.M.