Box Score

The Malone University baseball team fell just short in its attempt to knock off NCAA Division I Kent State University on Wednesday evening, falling by a final tally of 7-6.

The Pioneers (17-25 overall) scored three runs in the top of the fourth to grab a 6-4 advantage.  The Golden Flashes (27-13 overall) cut the deficit to 6-5 with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning and then pulled ahead with a two-run double in the fifth.

Malone relief pitcher Branden Carey held Kent State off the scoreboard the rest of the way with three scoreless innings, but the Pioneers were unable to manufacture the tying run.  The visitors' best chance to knot the score came in the eighth as three walks loaded the bases with two outs.  However, KSU escaped the jam by inducing a fly-out to right.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Logan Gray.  The Flashes responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame before Malone evened the score in the second on third baseman Jon Crank's two-out, two-run double. 

Kent State regained the lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the second.  The score then remained at 4-3 until the fourth when three KSU errors, a pair of bunt singles and a sacrifice fly allowed Malone to pull ahead.

Right-hander Matt Litty started on the mound for the Pioneers and tossed the first five innings before giving way to Carey.

Malone racked up 10 hits in the game.  Centerfielder Keanan Locke led the way for the Pioneers, going 3-for-4 from the lead-off spot with a double, a walk and two runs scored.  Crank and second baseman Richie Mast each added a pair of hits.

Malone returns to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play over the weekend with a three-game series at Northwood (MI) University.  The Pioneers and Timberwolves will play a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday before wrapping up the weekend with a nine-inning game at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.