The Malone University baseball team swept both games of its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at rival Walsh University on Wednesday afternoon, capturing the opener 10-3 before winning the finale 6-2.

The victories improved the Pioneers' record to 21-15 overall and 12-8 in the GLIAC while the Cavaliers fell to 15-19 overall and 8-12 in conference play.  Wednesday's sweep gave Malone four victories in its five meetings with Walsh this season while also allowing the Pioneers to take over sole possession of second place in the GLIAC South Division standings (Following the conclusion of the regular season, the six-team GLIAC Postseason Tournament will consist of the top two finishers from each division plus the two remaining teams with the best overall conference records).

Malone will return to action this weekend with a crucial four-game series at GLIAC South Division foe Tiffin University.  The Pioneers and Dragons are scheduled to square off in a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and a 2:00 p.m. twinbill on Sunday.

Game One Recap
Malone pulled ahead in the opener with a four-run outburst in the top of the third inning.  Third baseman Jon Crank brought home the first run of the afternoon with an RBI groundout.  Designated hitter Matt Davis then delivered a bases-loaded double to right-centerfield to put the Pioneers on top 4-0.

Walsh cut into the deficit with a two-run single in the bottom of the inning before Malone answered back in the fourth, increasing the lead to 7-2 with a two-run triple by centerfielder Brenden Wells and an RBI single by Crank.

Wells' three-bagger gave him seven triples on the year.  He is now just one triple shy of Steve Buso's single-season record of eight.

The Cavs got one run back with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth, but that was as close as the hosts would get.  Malone put the game away in the sixth, chasing home three more runs.  Catcher Hayden Mobley made it 8-3 on a groundout.  Davis then came through once again, delivering a two-run single.

Right-hander Joe Costello tossed the first five innings to pick up the win for the Pioneers.  The junior improved his record to 6-1 on the year, moving into a three-way tie for the GLIAC lead in wins.  Malone hurlers Gunnar Smeyres and Branden Carey each followed with an inning of scoreless relief.

The Pioneers tallied 10 hits in the game.  Davis led the way, going 3-for-4 with five RBI's.  Leftfielder Ryan Froman added a pair of singles to go with a sacrifice bunt and one run scored.

Game Two Recap
An RBI single put Walsh on top 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning of the finale.  Malone pulled in front in the fourth.  After a walk by Davis and a double by rightfielder Matt Wheeler, Froman gave the Pioneers the lead with a two-run single to left.  Shortstop Richie Mast followed with a two-out RBI single to make it 3-1.

The score then remained unchanged until the bottom of the eighth.  Following a single and a walk, the Cavaliers trimmed the deficit to 3-2 with a one-out single to right.  However, Walsh was unable to bring home the tying run as Pioneer closer Gary Lawrence then entered the game and retired the next two batters of the inning to keep the Malone lead intact.

The Pioneers opened up some breathing room in the top of the ninth as a Cavalier error and a two-run single by first baseman Ryan Sarbaugh allowed the visitors to cross the plate three more times.

Walsh drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth before Lawrence slammed the door shut, collecting his fourth save of the year after sitting down the next three Cavaliers in order.

Lefty Tyler Whitlatch started on the mound and worked the first 7.1 innings to earn his second victory of the season (2-3).  Whitlatch scattered seven hits, yielding two runs while striking out five.

Malone tallied nine hits in the contest.  Crank went 3-for-5 with a double and one run scored while Mast added a pair of singles.