Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Malone University baseball team stretched its winning streak to five in a row on Thursday with a doubleheader sweep at rival Walsh University.  Senior starting pitcher Taylore Baker led the Pioneers to a 1-0 triumph in the opener by tossing a three-hit shutout.  Malone's bats then came alive in a 7-2 victory in game two.

With the two wins, Malone secured a 2-1 edge in the season series with the Cavaliers while improving its record to 10-11 overall and 5-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).  Walsh, meanwhile, slipped to 9-15 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

The Pioneers are scheduled to return to action over the weekend with a three-game series at home against Hillsdale (MI) College.  Weather permitting, the two teams will play a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and a single, nine-inning game on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

Game One Recap
Baker hurled the first shutout of his Pioneer career in game one, holding the Cavaliers without a hit until the fifth inning.  The senior right-hander improved to 3-2 on the year, striking out five while walking just two over seven impressive innings. 

Walsh's Ian Drapcho nearly matched Baker's effort, surrendering five hits and striking out five in his seven innings of work. 

The contest's lone run came in the top of the seventh.  First baseman Logan Gray led off the frame with a single before being forced out at second on a ground ball off the bat of third baseman Jon Crank.  Crank advanced to third on a single by designated hitter Michael Chack.  Catcher Matt Davis, the next batter of the inning, lined a pitch to the shortstop for the second out.  Walsh's shortstop then fired a strike to first base in an attempt to double-up pinch runner Austin Pachan.  However, the throw was off the mark, allowing Crank to race home with the first and only score of the game.

Baker then worked around a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 1-0 victory.

Gray paced the Malone offense, posting singles in each of his three plate appearances.

Game Two Recap
The Pioneers used 10 base hits and a complete-game effort from senior starting pitcher Jack McDonald to complete the sweep with a 7-2 victory in the finale.  Malone got on the scoreboard with two runs in the top of the second.  Crank opened the scoring with an RBI triple and then came home to score on a single by Chack.

An RBI single by Crank made it 3-0 in the fourth before the Pioneers took command with a three-run fifth.  Leftfielder Hayden Mobley plated the first run with an RBI single.  Crank then chased home two more runs with a double to left-center.

Malone's final run came in the sixth.  Second baseman Tyler Eagon led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a balk and then came around to score on a single by shortstop Kyler King.

Walsh scored its first runs of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth, but it was not enough to overcome the sizable deficit or the strong outing by McDonald.

McDonald went the distance on the mound, improving to 2-1 on the season after giving up the two runs (one earned) on just three hits while striking out five.

Crank finished a homer shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with four RBI's.  Mobley and King each added a pair of hits.