The Malone University softball team fell to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opponent Lake Superior State University (MI) by the final scores of 17-13 and 9-1. The games took place at Marathon Diamonds, the home field of the University of Findlay in Findlay, OH.

The Pioneers will next play on the road against non-conference opponent Notre Dame College (OH) on Monday, April 6th at 12:00 p.m.

Game One Recap

The Pioneers scored first when Alexa Holztrager took advantage of Lake Superior State's wild pitch, giving Malone an early 1-0 lead. Catcher Emily Isla would then score off a sacrifice fly from teammate Allison Mercado in the bottom of the first to make the score 2-0. In the bottom of the second inning, center fielder Emily Beck singled to left field to bring Erika Gerber across the plate. Senior Stephanie Byrne would also single to left field in the bottom of the second, allowing Mikayla Fowler to score and putting the Pioneers on top 4-0.

The Lakers scored a run in the top of the third to make the score 4-1.

Gerber registered her first solo home run of the season in the bottom of the third inning to lift Malone's lead to 5-1.

Lake Superior responded by scoring five runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead, 6-5.

The Pioneers didn't back down as they would score two runs in the bottom of the fourth to retake the lead, 7-6.

The Lakers scored five runs again in the top of the fifth inning to pull ahead 11-7.

Malone's Beck would double up the middle to allow Holztrager and Fowler to score, cutting the deficit to 11-9.

Lake Superior went on to score two runs in the top of the sixth inning and four runs in the top of the seventh inning to increase their lead to 17-9.

The Pioneers rallied to score four runs in the seventh, but it wasn't enough as the final score was 17-13.

Holztrager went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and collected one RBI. In addition, Beck went 3-for-4 at the plate, including a team-high five RBIs and a homer, which is her third on the season. Fowler went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Game Two Recap

The Laker's jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of game two.

Malone's Shelby Hulin would single to center field, allowing Gerber to score, making it a 2-1 game.

However, Lake Superior scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth and four runs in the bottom of the fifth to seal the 9-1 victory in five innings.

Beck went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Pioneer offense.