The Malone University baseball team tallied a 1-1 record on Wednesday in its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against rival Walsh University.

The twinbill was originally slated to be played at Thurman Munson Stadium, but the wet weather conditions prompted the games to be held on the turf field at Kent State University's Schoonover Stadium.  A big nine-run fourth inning helped Malone (17-13 overall, 8-6 GLIAC) pull away for a 12-3 victory in the opener.  The Cavaliers (15-13 overall, 8-6 GLIAC) then earned the split with a 9-6 triumph in the finale.

The Pioneers are scheduled to be back in action over the weekend with a four-game series at the University of Findlay.

Game One Recap
Malone scored two runs in the second and one run in the third to grab a 3-0 lead in the opener.  Walsh trimmed the deficit to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth before the Pioneers exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the frame. 

Malone sent 15 batters to the plate in the big inning, posting four walks and seven hits.

Right-handed starting pitcher Joe Costello went the distance on the mound for the Pioneers, improving his record to 5-1 on the year after limiting the Cavaliers to three runs on seven hits over his seven innings of work. 

Eight different Pioneers tallied hits in the contest.  Designated hitter Matt Davis drove in a total of three runs with a pair of doubles.   In addition, rightfielder Matt Wheeler went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Game Two Recap
A two-run double put the Cavs on top 2-0 in the top of the first inning of the finale.  Malone knotted things up in the bottom of the frame with an RBI groundout by shortstop Richie Mast and an RBI single by designated hitter Hayden Mobley.

Walsh reclaimed the lead with a solo run in the second before the Pioneers knotted the score once more in the third on Mobley's RBI groundout.

The Cavaliers would then pull ahead 9-3, plating one run in the fourth, two runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh.

Malone cut the deficit to 9-6 in the bottom of the seventh thanks to an RBI single by Mobley and a two-run double by Davis.

The Pioneers were unable to complete the comeback, though, as the Walsh bullpen worked a scoreless eighth and ninth to cement the victory.

The Pioneers tallied 12 hits in the finale.  Third baseman Jon Crank led the way, going 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.  Mobley went 2-for-4 with three RBI's while leftfielder Ryan Froman also tallied a pair of hits in four at-bats.