CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University softball team went 0-2 against Hillsdale College with scores of 5-3 and 5-4 on Saturday. The Pioneers are now 20-12 overall and 5-7 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The Chargers jump to 22-15 overall and 10-4 in the conference.
GAME ONE RECAP:
In the bottom of the second,
Jessie Crookston had a single and stole second, but was left on base to keep the game scoreless. Hillsdale had four hits to drive in three runs in the top of the third inning.
Malone attempted a comeback in the bottom of the third after Crookston hit a single and
Masyn Baker singled to bring
Mia Rose home at 3-1. To tie it at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Crookston hit a triple to bring in
Sidney Conti and Baker had a single to plate Crookston.
Marlee Pireu and
Halyn Cawthorne pulled off a double play in the top of the seventh to hold the tie game.
In inning eight,
Morgan Cantrell had a base hit then a sacrifice bunt from Conti put her on third. Rose was intentionally walked, but both Cantrell and Rose were left on. In the top of ninth, an outfield assist from Crookston helped to eliminate a would-be run for Hillsdale. The Chargers took the game in the top of the tenth at 5-3.
Crookston led the Pioneers at the plate going 3-for-5 and Baker had two RBIs. Rose (11-6) took a loss after pitching all ten innings.
GAME TWO RECAP:
Hillsdale started game two with a homerun, but Pireu answered with her own homer to start the bottom of the first. The Pioneers took a lead in the bottom of the third after a Pireu single and Cantrell triple made it 2-1. Rose also hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Cantrell for a 3-1 score.
The Chargers made in 5-3 in the top of the sixth after three hits and an error. In the bottom of the sixth, Conti hit a single and eventually advanced to third. A Baker double sent Conti home, but was not enough to take the lead back leaving the score at 5-4 to end the game.
Pireu was 2-for-4 at the plate and Baker went 2-for-3. Rose (11-6) pitched two innings and Baker threw the first five-plus.
UP NEXT:
Malone will travel to Ursuline College on Tuesday, April 14 for their next G-MAC doubleheader. First pitch will be thrown at 3:00 P.M.