Baseball Loses To Kent State, Splits Twin Bill At St. Vincent; Now Looks To AMC Tourney

     The Malone College baseball team now awaits its first round pairing in the upcoming AMC Tournament after having completed its regular season last week with one victory in three contests.  The squad fell to Kent State University 12-0 on Tuesday (at KSU) and then split a doubleheader at St. Vincent (PA) College on Wednesday where they won the first game 9-1 but dropped the second game 3-0.  The team's scheduled home doubleheader vs. St. Vincent last Saturday was cancelled due to field conditions and cannot be made up by today's (May 2) regular-season deadline due to both school's having final examinations.  With the 1-2 week, the Pioneers have finished the regular season with an overall record of 25-23 and a final 13-9 mark in the AMC North Division. 
     The Pioneers are guaranteed at least the #2 seed among the four teams that will qualify for postseason from the seven-team AMC North (four also qualify from the AMC South which also consists of seven schools).  Malone, which could earn the #1 North seed if Walsh University loses two games to Point Park today (May 2), is also guaranteed home field for the first round AMC best-of-three series since the top two seeds on each half receive the home field.  The team will host a first-round playoff DH on either Thursday or Friday of this week (opponent, time TBA).
     At KSU, it was a difficult day against an outstanding NCAA Div. I program as Malone recorded just two hits while allowing 16 hits in the 12-0 loss.  Zach Winkhart (Fr., Central Catholic H.S.) absorbed the loss as the starting pitcher.  Troy Richeson (Fr., Minerva H.S.) and Billy Kern (Sr., Pompano Beach, FL) each garnered a hit for the Pioneers.
     In the opening game at St. Vincent, Malone tallied six runs in the seventh inning to secure the 9-1 victory.  Korey Heppeard (Jr., Van Wert H.S.) earned the win giving up just one run on six hits and striking out seven batters in six innings pitched.  Brian King (Fr., Shelby H.S.) was two-for-two with three runs followed by Kern with a single, a double, a run scored and three RBI’s.  Andy Bourquin (Sr., Canton South H.S.) posted a double, a run and two RBI’s while Richeson added a double, a run and an RBI.
     In the nightcap at SVC, the Pioneers tallied six hits but couldn’t score in the 3-0 loss.  Anthony Barson (Jr., Timken H.S.) suffered the loss (6IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 6SO) while Jarrod Stahl (Jr., Kenmore H.S.) and Winkhart each posted two hits for the offense.
     This week, Malone (25-23, 13-9 AMC N) will compete in the AMC Tournament (best-of-three series) on Thursday (May 5) or Friday (May 6) with the opponent and time TBA.

Softball Team Concludes Season With DH Loss At Mt. Vernon Nazarene
 
     The Malone College softball team completed its 2005 season last week as the squad dropped a doubleheader last Wednesday at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University by scores of 4-3 and 9-1in the team's only games on the week.  Malone finished the 2005 campaign with a 13-20 mark overall and a 1-13 record in the AMC South Division.
     In game one at MVNU, Malone scored two runs in the seventh inning but came up just short in the 4-3 loss.  Kathryn Bzdafka (Fr., Avon Lake H.S.) absorbed the loss (5IP, 9H, 4R, 4ER, 3SO).  The Pioneers posted eight hits, including a single and a double by Holly Christopher (Fr., Garfield H.S.) and a double by Bzdafka.
     In the nightcap at MVNU, Malone allowed seven runs in the fifth inning en rout to the 9-1 loss.  Kristen Houtz (Jr., Hoover H.S.) took the loss (4IP, 6H, 2R) while Christopher was two-for-three to lead the offense.