COCOA BEACH, Fla. - The Malone University softball team went even at 1-1 on their first day of spring break softball. The Pioneers (5-3) dropped the opening game of their week to Rockhurst University (8-7) by a score of 1-0 and defeated the University of Minnesota Crookston (5-17) in eight innings, 5-3.
 
MALONE vs ROCKHURST RECAP:
Game one against Rockhurst was a pitcher's dual from start to finish as both sides struggled to even get baserunners. Malone got a runner to third after Marlee Pireu led off the game with a walk, but could not get the final 60 feet to score.
 
The next time the Pioneers got to third base was on a two-out triple off the bat of Sidney Conti in the sixth. Mia Rose was walked and Jessie Crookston stole second after entering as a pinch runner, but the Hawks were able to escape the jam again and keep the scoreless tie alive. A bases loaded sacrifice fly for Rockhurst gave the team the 1-0 advantage they needed to secure the win. Amber Miller singled in the seventh but nothing developed behind her.
 
In the circle, Rose (3-1) was excellent despite getting saddled with the loss. She threw 6.0 innings and allowed six hits and one walk. Rose had five K's. Conti had the lone extra-base hit as well as two of the team's four hits on offense.
 
MALONE vs MINNESOTA CROOKSTON RECAP:
After being shutout in the first game of the evening, Malone was able to strike first against Minnesota Crookston. Pireu doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch to set the table for a Morgan Cantrell sacrifice fly.
 
The Pioneers extended their lead to 2-0 with the help of two hit by pitches and chaos on the basepaths. The bottom of the third was extended by an error and allowed the Golden Eagles to tie the game at 2-2. The 2-2 game remained until the top of the seventh when a sacrifice fly by Rose put Malone in front. Minnesota Crookston responded with their backs against the wall and sent the game to extra innings with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Aricka Young, Lacie Quarles and Cantrell had base hits for the Pioneers in the eighth inning to help give the team a 5-3 advantage. The Golden Eagles put the tying run in scoring position, but Head Coach Jeff Hite called upon Rose to enter the game and record the save by getting the final out of the game on a groundout, her first of the season.
 
Masyn Baker made the start and did not allow an earned run in her three innings of work. Summer McCaw (1-1) had the longest pitching appearance for Malone at 4.2 innings. She struck out four and was walk-free. At the top of the order, Pireu reached base four times (two hits, two walks) and Cantrell was 3-for-4 in the win.
 
UP NEXT:
Malone returns to action on Monday, March 9 at 10:00 A.M. with a game against Minot State University. They also compete against Minnesota Crookston again at 12:15 P.M.