Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

A pair of strong pitching performances helped the Malone University baseball team pocket two victories on Friday afternoon during in its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against the University of Findlay.  Due to poor field conditions at UF, Friday's games were held at Mount Vernon Nazarene University's turf field.

Right-handed starting pitcher Taylore Baker led the Pioneers to a 3-1 triumph in the opener, allowing just three hits over seven strong innings.  Right-hander Jack McDonald then picked up were Baker left off in game two, propelling Malone to a 4-3 triumph after limiting the Oilers to three runs (two earned) over six innings of work.

Malone improved to 7-11 overall and 2-1 in GLIAC play following Friday's twinbill while Findlay fell to 3-9 overall and 0-2 in conference games.

The two squads will wrap up their three-game series on Saturday at MVNU with a single, nine-inning game starting at 1:00 p.m.

Game One Recap
A solo homer put the Oilers on top 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning of the opener.  However, the early score would prove to be the only offense Findlay could muster in game one as Baker settled in, yielding just two hits over the remainder of the contest.

Malone broke through in the fourth, scoring all three of its runs.  Rightfielder Matt Wheeler led off the frame with a single and then moved to second on a bunt single by catcher Hayden Mobley.  Both base runners then came home to score when first baseman Logan Gray laced a double to left.  Following a groundout, third baseman Jon Crank brought home Gray with a single to right-center.

The three runs proved to be more than enough for Baker as he retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced.  Baker improved to 2-2 on the season with the complete-game victory, striking out six and walking just one.

The Pioneers notched nine hits in the contest as Wheeler went 3-for-4 with a double and two singles.  Mobley added two hits in three at-bats with a stolen base and one run scored

Game Two Recap
Malone grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning of game two thanks to a two-run single by Mobley.  The Pioneers then tacked on two more runs in the fourth to stretch their advantage to 4-0. 

Findlay got on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and then threatened to pull ahead by loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh.  The Oilers managed to bring home just one run, though, as reliever Branden Carey worked out of the jam, preserving the 4-3 victory and earning his first career save.

McDonald picked up the win (1-1), striking out four while walking four over the first six innings.