The Malone University baseball team continued its spring break trip to the Tucson Invitational on Monday with nine-inning victories against the University of Mary (ND) and Indiana Wesleyan University. The Pioneers (3-3 overall) fought back from a 4-2 deficit to post a 5-4 win over the Marauders. Malone then piled up 15 hits, including five doubles and two triples, in a convincing 14-6 triumph against the Wildcats.

The Pioneers will be back in action in Arizona on Tuesday with a 12:00 p.m. MST (2:00 p.m. EST) contest against Northern State (SD) University.

Mary Recap
After the Marauders grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Pioneer centerfielder Brenden Wells knotted things up in the bottom of the inning. Wells led off the frame with a double down the leftfield line and then later came around to score on an RBI single by third baseman Jon Crank.

Malone made it 2-1 in the third as first baseman Keanan Locke doubled and later scored on a groundout by catcher Hayden Mobley. Mary fought back, pulling ahead 4-2 with solo runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

A pair of base hits and three Marauder defensive miscues allowed the Pioneers to tie things up at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Malone then pulled ahead in the seventh. Locke got things started by leading off the frame with his second double of the contest. He tagged and moved to third on a line-out by Crank before crossing the plate with the go-ahead run on an RBI single to center by Mobley.

Mary put a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs in the eighth, but Pioneer reliever Gary Lawrence entered the game and extinguished the threat by inducing a ground out to second.

Lawrence then tossed a scoreless ninth to cement the victory and earn his first career save.

Left-hander Tyler Whitlatch picked up the win (1-1) in relief after hurling two scoreless innings. Freshman Shawn Mills worked the first five innings, surrendering four runs (two earned) on seven hits.

Locke finished with the two doubles and two runs scored while designated hitter Matt Davis went 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of singles.

Indiana Wesleyan Recap
Malone jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in its second contest of the day thanks to a two-out, two-run double by Davis in the bottom of the first and an RBI triple by Wells in the second inning.

IWU fought back in the top of the third, scoring five runs with the help of three walks, some well-placed bunts and a two-run double.

However, the Pioneers batted around in both the fourth and six innings, scoring five runs in each frame to build a commanding lead.

Wells helped spark both of the big innings, delivering an RBI double in the fourth and then clearing the bases in the sixth with a two-out, three-run double. The sophomore leadoff hitter, who transferred to Malone from Marshall University, ended the contest a home run shy of the cycle as he went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and five RBI's.

Davis smashed a triple in the third inning and a two-run double in the fourth, finishing the game with three extra-base hits and four RBI's.

Crank, Mobley and second baseman Richie Mast all added two hits and scored three runs apiece.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Jordan Yoder picked up his first collegiate win (1-0) after tossing the first five innings.