The Malone University baseball team suffered a pair of narrow defeats during its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at the University of Findlay on Sunday afternoon.
The Oilers (10-24 overall, 5-13 GLIAC) rallied for an extra-inning 5-4 victory in the opener before closing out the weekend series with a 4-3 triumph in game two.
Malone (19-15 overal, 10-8 GLIAC) will look to rebound on Wednesday when the squad returns to action with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at Walsh University.
Game One RecapThe Pioneers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning of game one when third baseman
Jon Crank plugged the gap in right-centerfield with a bases-loaded triple.
Findlay fought back to tie the game with one run in the third and two runs in the fifth.
Designated hitter
Hayden Mobley then put Malone in front 4-3 in the top of the seventh by lining an RBI single to right.
However, the Pioneers were unable to put the game away in the bottom of the inning. A passed ball brought home the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, sending the contest to extra innings knotted at 4-4.
The Oilers then loaded the bases with one out in the eighth. With a drawn in infield, Malone induced the next Findlay batter to hit a ground ball. The Pioneers fielded the ball and looked to get a force out at the plate, but the throw home was wide of the mark, allowing the winning run to score.
In all, the Pioneers committed six errors in the contest, resulting in all five of Findlay's runs being unearned.
Malone registered eight hits, led by shortstop
Richie Mast who went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Â Â Mobley added two hits and a pair of stolen bases.
Game Two RecapThe Oilers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of the finale. An RBI double by rightfielder
Matt Wheeler and a Findlay error allowed Malone to pull in front 3-2 in the top of the second inning.Â
After giving up the three runs in the second, Oiler starting pitcher Austin Rodesky settled in on the mound as he did not allow a base runner over the final five innings of the contest.
Findlay eventually managed to regain the lead in the fifth, tying the game with an RBI double before pulling ahead with a two-out, RBI single.
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