Malone loses to:
                                   Mt. Union College  5-1
                                   Notre Dame College  4-2
                    CURRENT RECORD:  23-6  (9-3 AMC North)

 

Men's Golf - Malone (A) tied for fourth place among a 13-team field at the Eastern Kentucky University Invitational last Friday and Saturday; Malone (B) finished second among 12 teams at the Westminster (PA) College Invitational last Monday

                          
Men's and Women's Track & Field - Malone men placed third among seven teams at the Ohio University Invitational last Saturday; Malone women took fourth among eight teams

 

Women's Tennis - Malone loses to:
                                              The College of Wooster 5-4
                                              Cedarville University  7-2
                                   CURRENT RECORD:  5-7  (0-1 AMC South)

Women's Golf - Malone finished 10th among 11 teams at the Capital University Invitational last Friday and Saturday

Softball Splits Pair With Point Park, Takes Two From Mt. Vernon Nazarene

     The Malone College softball team split two games at Point Park University last Wednesday (make-up from March 17th rainout), dropping the opener 3-1 before dominating the nightcap 11-0 (six innings).  The Pioneers then swept both games of Saturday’s doubleheader with Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (at home), taking game one 2-1 and game two 2-0.  With the 3-1 week, Malone currently holds an 8-11 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the AMC South Division.
     In Wednesday’s opener against Point Park, the Pioneers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning but then were shut out over the remaining six innings en route to the narrow 3-1 defeat.  Although Malone recorded nine hits in the game, they struggled to get the clutch hit, stranding 13 runners on base and scoring just once.  Kristen Houtz (Sr., Hoover H.S.) started on the mound and took the loss (1-2) after surrendering three runs on six hits over 3.2 innings pitched.  Sarah Sweitzer (Sr., New Philadelphia H.S.) went 4-4 in the game, smacking three singles and one double.  In addition, Holly Christopher (So., Garfield H.S.) was 3-4 with three singles and a stolen base.
     In the nightcap against Point Park, Malone jumped on their opposition early, scoring five times in the first inning before tacking on four more runs in the top of the sixth to secure the 11-0 six-inning victory.  Heather Jones (Sr., Lexington H.S.) recorded her third victory of the season (3-2) by shutting out Point Park on just three hits over six innings pitched.  The Pioneers pounded out a season-high fourteen hits as Jones helped her own cause at the plate by going 2-4 with a two-run homerun and a one-run double.  In addition, Kathryn Bzdafka (So., Avon Lake H.S.) recorded two runs and two steals and went 2-4 with a solo homer and a double.
     In game one with Mt. Vernon Nazarene, Malone scored twice in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead and then held the Cougars scoreless over the final five innings to claim the victory.  Cori Helm (Jr., East Brook H.S.) earned her first win of the year (1-4) after allowing just one run on nine hits over seven innings pitched.  Helm also delivered the go-ahead RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the second-inning, one of four Pioneer hits in the game.
     In Saturday’s finale, Malone’s impressive pitching performance continued as the Pioneers shut down the Cougar offense in the 2-0 win.  Jones started on the mound and posted her second victory on the week (4-2) by striking out 11 batters over seven innings pitched.  Malone posted seven hits in the game as Katherine Green (Sr., Oak Harbor H.S.) clubbed two doubles and Sweitzer ripped one double and one single.
     This week, Malone (8-11, 3-3 AMC S) will host Ursuline College (4-15, 0-4 AMC N) in a doubleheader on Monday at 3:30 p.m.  The squad will then face Seton Hill (PA) University (7-6, 1-3 AMC N) for two games at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday (at Malone) before wrapping up the week by traveling to Urbana University (8-12, 0-4 AMC S) for another doubleheader on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

 

     The Malone College baseball team split a pair of non-conference, nine-inning match-ups early last week, falling to Mount Union College 5-1 on Monday before defeating Baldwin Wallace College 9-7 on Tuesday.  The team was then scheduled to play a four-game series with Notre Dame College (OH) at Bob Starcher Field (two games on Friday and two games on Saturday) with the Falcons considered the home team for Friday’s games, due to the poor field conditions at Notre Dame. 
     Game one on Friday was tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning before heavy rains arrived, causing the contest to be postponed until the following day.  The two teams picked up the action on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m., playing an additional four more innings before Malone was able to pull out the 2-1 ten-inning victory.  Games two through four of the conference series then followed on Saturday, as the Pioneers claimed a 5-2 victory in game two, fell 4-2 in game number three and won game four by a score of 6-3.  With the 4-2 week, Malone remained in first place in the AMC North with a 23-6 overall record and a 9-3 mark in the division.  The Pioneers also retained their top 25 NAIA national ranking, remaining at #19 for the second consecutive week (poll results are announced each Wednesday).
     On Monday against Mt. Union, Malone was able to manufacture just one run on five hits in the 5-1 defeat.  Adam Boudler (Fr., Louisville H.S.) took the loss (1-1) after striking out six and giving up just two runs (one earned) on six hits over eight innings pitched.  Josh Spencer (Jr., Canton Cent. Cath. H.S.) went 1-4, plating the Pioneers’ only run on a fifth-inning groundout.
     Against Baldwin-Wallace on Tuesday, Malone used a five-run fourth inning to take the lead and then held on for the 9-7 victory.  Ryan Hartong (Fr., Dalton H.S.) earned his third victory of the season (3-0) by allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits over five innings pitched.  Anthony Barson (Sr., Timken H.S.) earned his fourth save of the year after pitching the final inning.  The Pioneers smacked twelve hits in the game as Alton Thompson (Sr., Coshocton H.S.) went 3-4, tallying an RBI single, an RBI double and scoring one run.  In addition, Spencer scored two runs and went 2-4 with a two-run single.
     In game one against Notre Dame, Malone scored once in the top of the first to grab the early lead but then did not score again until Bob Dubovec (Jr., Kenston H.S.) delivered the go-ahead RBI double in the top of the tenth inning.  Anthony Barson then retired the side in order in the bottom of the tenth, earning his fourth win of the year (4-0) and giving Malone the thrilling 2-1 victory.  The Pioneers recorded seven hits in the game as Jarrod Stahl (Sr., Kenmore H.S.) went 1-4 with two runs scored and two steals.
     In game two on Saturday, Notre Dame held a 1-0 lead after five innings before Malone scored five runs in the top of the sixth to claim the 5-2 victory.  Dan Walker (Sr., Ellet H.S.) started on the mound and earned the win (4-1) by striking out six and surrendering just two runs (none earned) on five hits over seven innings pitched.  Dubovec went 3-4 at the plate with an RBI double and Zac Barson (Fr., Canton South H.S.) was 2-4 with an RBI single. 
     In game three on Saturday, the Pioneers committed two errors and scored two runs on four hits in the 4-2 defeat.  Josh McKeivier (So., Strasburg Franklin H.S.) took the loss (3-2) after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits over 4.1 innings pitched.  Spencer went 2-3 in the contest, posting two of Malone’s four singles.
     In the series finale, the Pioneers trailed 2-1 after four innings but then scored five times in the bottom of the fifth en route to the 6-3 victory.  Dubovec started on the mound and earned his fourth win of the season (4-2) after striking out eight and surrendering three runs on just four hits over 6.1 innings pitched.  He also helped his own cause at the plate by going 3-3 with an RBI double and an RBI single.  In addition, Scott McIlvain (Fr., Marlington H.S.) scored two runs and went 2-3 with a one-run single.
     This week, Malone (23-6, 9-3 AMC N) will host Myers University (6-18) in a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday.  The squad will then play two games at home against Seton Hill (PA) University (16-13, 3-3 AMC N) on Friday at 1:00 p.m. before traveling to Seton Hill for another doubleheader on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Men's Golf Ties For Fourth At Eastern Kentucky; B Team Takes Second At Westminster

     The Malone College men's golf team earned its best finish ever at the NCAA Div. I Eastern Kentucky University Invitational last Friday and Saturday by finishing in a tie for fourth place among an outstanding 13-team field.  Earlier in the week, on Monday, the Malone B team placed second among a 12-team field at the Westminster (PA) College Invitational.
     At Eastern Kentucky, Malone tallied a score of 910 (310-302-298) for fourth place as three teams tied for first place before Tennessee Tech University won the title in a playoff.  Tennessee Tech posted a score of 882 with rounds of 294, 292 and 296 while Northern Illinois University (298-291-293) and Eastern Kentucky (303-294-285) also had 882's.  Austin Peay State (TN) University tied with Malone for fourth at 910 (305-305-300).
     Grant Gates (Jr., River Valley H.S.) paced the team and finished in ninth place overall with a score of 221 (75-76-70) while Scotty Jones (Jr., East Palestine H.S.) was close behind in 11th at 222 (75-73-74).  Other Malone scores included Darren Phipps (So., Lake H.S.) at 230 (81-77-72), Scott Shenker (Sr., Twinsburg H.S.) at 237 (79-76-82) and Michael Johnson (Fr., Lake H.S.) at 252 (81-88-83).  Nathan Garwood (Jr., Ridgedale H.S.) competed as an individual and posted a score of 251 (90-81-80).
     At the Westminster event, Malone B recorded a score of 314 as Allegheny (PA) College won the event at 306.  Carnegie Mellon (PA) University took third at 315, St. Vincent (PA) College was fourth at 327 and Grove City (PA) College rounded out the top five at 328.
     Shenker and Aaron Strauch (Sr., Emporium, PA) led the team by finishing in a tie for second place overall with rounds of 76.  Garwood and Matt Strayer (So., Riverside H.S.) tied for 15th with rounds of 81 while Jordan Grubb (Jr., Lake H.S.) posted an 86.
     This week, Malone will compete at the North Greenville (SC) College Invitational on Monday and Tuesday beginning at 10:00 a.m. each day.

Men's Track & Field Team Takes Third At Ohio Invitational; Women Place Fourth

     The Malone College men's track & field team earned a solid third-place finish among seven teams at the Ohio University Invitational last Saturday while the women's team finished fourth among its eight-team field.  In addition, numerous athletes posted NAIA national qualifying marks.
     The Malone men tallied 116.5 points for its third-place finish at Ohio University took the men's title with 209.5 points followed by runner-up Ohio Wesleyan University which had 132 points.  The University of Rochester (NY) took fourth (115) and the University of Rio Grande rounded out the top five (75).
     The Pioneer women's team posted 92 points for its fourth-place finish as Ohio University also won the women's title.  Bowling Green State University finished second (195), Marshall (WV) University placed third (112.5) and Ohio Wesleyan rounded out the top five (58).
     For the Malone men, numerous athletes turned in top-five performances as Jay Brueckner (So., Crestview H.S.) posted the team's only first-place finish on the day with a victory in the 400-meter hurdles in 56.28 seconds.

     Second-place finishes went to Mike Coates (So., Sandy Valley H.S.) in the 1500 meters (4:08.40), Ryan Kienzle (So., GlenOak H.S.) in the 5000 meters (15:20.38), Curtis Mortenson (Sr., Kodiak, AK) in the 10,000 meters (33:10.80), Chad Armstrong (Jr., Edgewood H.S.) in the hammer throw (154' 2") and Brady West (Jr., West Muskingum H.S.) in the javelin (160' 2").  In addition, the men's 4x400-meter relay team of Tim Walter (Sr., West Muskingum H.S.), Adam Huffman (Sr., Crestwood H.S.), Cody Ford (Sr., Minerva H.S.) and Jeb Ford (Fr., Minerva H.S.) finished second in 3:26.49.
     Third-place finishers included Jon Easterling (Fr., Ashtabula H.S.) in the 400-meter hurdles (58.81) and Justin Jump (Fr., Wellington H.S.) in the discus (135' 9") while fourth-place finishers included Cody Ford in both the 200 meters (22.85) and 400 meters (50.29) and Brady West in both the high jump (5' 10") and long jump (19' 11").
     Ryan Kienzle also took fifth in the 1500 meters (4:12.07) while Jeremy Rodgers (Jr., Tusky Valley H.S.) placed fifth in the discus (133' 2").
     For the women's team, Ashley Currence (Jr., East Canton H.S.) posted the team's only first-place finish as she won the triple jump at 35' 4.5".
     Four women's athletes who competed in the 10,000 meters earned NAIA national provisional qualifying marks led by Katie Bagley (Fr., Crestview H.S.) who placed second in the event in 38:46.60.  Others who qualified provisionally in the event were Joanna Genter (Jr., Crestview H.S.) in fourth place (38:59.90), Caity Schneider (Jr., Sandy Valley H.S.) in fifth (39:05.80) and Rebekah Genter (Fr., Crestview H.S.) in sixth (39:06.00).

     Third-place finishers on the day included Brooke Gasser (Jr., Norwayne H.S.) in the long jump (17' 5.5") and in the javelin (135' 1"), for which she automatically qualified for NAIA nationals (javelin), Vallie Scott (Fr., West Branch H.S.) in the 400 meters (59.49) and Megan Patton (Fr., Perry H.S.) in the 400-meter hurdles (1:10.15).  In addition, the women's 4x400-meter relay of Vallie Scott, Kristina Barrett (Sr., Licking Valley H.S.), Kim Winton (Fr., Medina H.S.) and Megan Patton finished third in 4:09.65.
     The women's 4x100-meter relay team of Vallie Scott, Holly Motter (Fr., Mt. Union, PA), Kristina Barrett and Brooke Gasser finished fourth in a time of 50.30 seconds.  In addition, Megan Patton finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (17.33).
     In addition, four Malone athletes competed in a half-marathon in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday and each posted an NAIA national qualifying mark.  For the men, Ryan Crocker (Fr., CVCA) and Ryan Hurley (Sr., Saline, MI) each qualified with times of 1:13:19 and 1:14:29, respectively.  For the women, Carrie Hart (Jr., LaBrae H.S.) and Lauren Sloan (Jr., Kent Roosevelt H.S.) qualified with times of 1:31:00 and 1:31:19, respectively.
     This week, Malone will host an open race walk event on Friday at 6:00 p.m. in which a women's 3000-meter race walk and a men's 5000-meter race walk will be held simultaneously.  The event is open to all.  The next competition for the Malone teams is April 13-15 at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Men's Tennis Team Defeats Franciscan University  8-1