Malone University Athletic Department issued the following announcement on Feb. 24
The Malone University baseball team returned to Legacy Field at the Prasco Park complex on Thursday for a doubleheader against West Liberty University to complete the four-game series.
The Pioneers (5-1, 0-0 G-MAC) were able to easily handle the Hilltoppers (0-8, 0-0 MEC) all afternoon long. Malone took game one of the doubleheader 9-2, and then polished off the series sweep of WLU by winning the finale 9-4.
Game 1 Highlights
The Hilltoppers led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning, but that is where the game completely changed.
The Pioneers sent thirteen men to the plate in the inning. Eight runs were scored on eight hits, and one West Liberty error.
JT Tonelli, Cameron Martin, Clayton Criss, Petey Taylor, Andrew Hanna, and Tyson Gingerich all had RBIs in the inning for Malone.
The nine total runs were plenty for the pitching staff to work with.
Chase Jessee picked up his first win of the season by tossing four innings, and allowing just the two earned runs. He also struck out seven batters to push his season total out to eleven.
William Rouse and Anthony Bartiromo combined to throw the final three innings out of the bullpen to close out the win, and guarantee the series win for the Pioneers.
Game 2 Highlights
Michael Cook made his second start of the season, and turned in a line that included 5.0 innings pitched and five strikeouts. He scattered seven hits, and allowed just three earned runs to pick up his second win of the season.
Josh Salinas and Cooper Davies each pitched scoreless innings out of the bullpen to help secure the Malone win.
Offensively, the Pioneers scored in four of their six times at bat, each time plating at least two runs.
The turning point came in the bottom of the fourth inning. West Liberty had fought back to tie the game at 4-4 in the top half, but Malone responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half which started to put the game away.
Petey Taylor scored on a Hilltopper error early in the inning, and Cameron Martin broke the game wide open with his two-out, two-run double which put MU up 7-4.
Tyson Gingerich laced a RBI triple in the sixth. He later scored on another West Liberty error to make it 9-4.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone will not take the field again until they travel to Florida for spring break. The Pioneers will play ten games over the course of nine days in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
First up will be a doubleheader on March 4 against future G-MAC member Northwood University. First pitch from Lake Myrtle Sports Park: Field #4 in Auburndale, Florida is set for 11:00 a.m.
Original source can be found here.
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