Track & Field - Malone competed at the Wheeling Jesuit (WV) University Cardinal Twilight last Thursday

For statistics and standings of Malone teams, check out www.malone.edu/athletics and/or www.amcsports.org.

     The Malone College baseball team competed at the four-team double-elimination NAIA Region IX Tournament last week (all games played at Seton Hill University), winning Wednesday’s opening round game 8-1 over Urbana University.  The Pioneers then advanced to Thursday’s second round where they faced top-seed Seton Hill.  Due to heavy rains, Thursday’s contest was postponed in the bottom of the third inning with Seton Hill holding a 4-1 advantage.  The game was then resumed on Friday morning as the Griffins pulled away to earn a 14-1 victory.  Malone was then eliminated from the tournament later in the day on Friday when they fell to Mt. Vernon Nazarene University by a 7-5 final.  The Pioneers, with an overall record of 38-17, did receive an at-large bid to the NCCAA National Tournament, though, and will travel to Clearwater, Florida to compete in the eight-team double-elimination national event May 17-20 as the #1 seed.  Malone will face #8 Mid-Continent (KY) University on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in a first-round game.
     Against Urbana in the NAIA Region IX tourney, Malone jumped out to an early 1-0 lead before adding two runs in the fifth inning and four more runs in the eighth inning to secure the 8-1 victory.  Adam Boudler (Fr., Louisville H.S.) started on the mound for the Pioneers and earned a complete game victory (7-2) after allowing just one run on seven hits.  Malone posted six hits in the contest as Scott McIlvain (Fr., Marlington H.S.) went 2-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. 
     On Thursday, Seton Hill posted four runs in the second inning to grab the lead (before the rains arrived) and then was able to extend its advantage when play resumed on Friday with four runs in the fifth inning and six more runs in the seventh en route to a dominating 14-1 victory.  Bob Dubovec (Jr., Kenston H.S.) suffered the loss (7-4) after giving up Thursday’s four runs on five hits over two innings pitched.  Malone struggled at the plate throughout the game, managing just two hits in the contest.
     Against Mt. Vernon Nazarene, Malone led 5-0 after five innings before the Cougars rallied to score seven runs over the final three innings, stealing the 7-5 victory and advancing to the tournament’s final round to face Seton Hill.  Anthony Barson (Sr., Timken H.S.) suffered the loss (6-2) after surrendering three runs (two earned) on three hits over 1.2 innings pitched.  The Pioneers smacked ten hits in the game as Jonathon Lutton (Fr., Louisville H.S.) went 3-4 with one RBI.  
    This week, Malone (38-17) will travel to Clearwater, Florida to compete at the eight-team double-elimination NCCAA National Championships.  Malone, the #1 seed, will face Mid-Continent (KY) University on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in a first-round contest. 

 

 

     The Malone College men's and women's track & field teams competed at the Wheeling Jesuit (WV) University Cardinal Twilight meet last Thursday as several athletes qualified for the NAIA National Championships while a men's and women's relay team each came heartbreakingly close to qualifying in their last attempt of the season.
     For the women's team, Megan Patton (Fr. Perry H.S.) qualified for the NAIA national meet with an automatic qualifying time of 1:05.95 in the 400-meter hurdles for a first-place finish.  
     Other first-place winners for the women included Missy Walker (Jr., Piqua H.S.) in the 3000-meter race walk (16:49.70, NAIA auto) and Megan Gasparin (Sr., Renfrew, PA) in the hammer throw (150' 5").  In addition, the women's 4x400-meter relay team of Kim Winton (Fr., Medina H.S.), Brittany Davies (Jr., Cedarville H.S.), Kristina Barrett (Sr., Licking Valley H.S.) and Vallie Scott (Fr., West Branch H.S.) grabbed first-place but narrowly missed an NAIA qualifying mark by just .77 seconds as they posted a time of 3:59.02 for the win.
     Second-place finishers for the women were Vallie Scott in the 400 meters (57.96), Megan Patton in the 100-meter hurdles (15.59), Alycia Dunlap (Fr., Indian Valley H.S.) in the pole vault (9' 6") and Holly Motter (Fr., Mt. Union, PA) in the triple jump (33' 9.5").

     Third-place finishers included Laura McElrath (So., Tallmadge H.S.) in the 200-meter dash (26.44) and the 100-meter hurdles (15.80), Aubree Horning (So., Salem H.S.) in the shot put (38' 2.75") and Megan Gasparin in the discus (123' 7").

     For the men's team, four individuals and a relay team took first place.  Mike Coates (So., Sandy Valley H.S.) won the 1500 meters (4:02.35), Nate Hughes (Jr., Worthington Christian H.S.) took the 5000-meter race walk (26:53.70; NAIA auto), Jay Brueckner (So., Crestview H.S.) captured the 400-meter hurdles (55.87) and Tyler Davis (So., Teays Valley H.S.) won the high jump (6' 2").  In addition, the men's 4x400-meter relay team of Jay Brueckner, Adam Huffman (Sr., Crestwood H.S.), Chris Cruise (So., Field H.S.) and Cody Ford (Sr., Minerva H.S.) took the win but just missed out on qualifying for the NAIA national meet by just .63 seconds as they posted a time of 3:18.63.
     Second-place finishers included Joe Carmany (Jr., New Middletown Springfield H.S.) in the 5000-meter race walk (28:39.90, NAIA auto), Brady West (Jr., West Muskingum H.S.) in the 110-meter hurdles (16.79) and the long jump (20' 1.5"), Jon Easterling (Fr., Ashtabula H.S.) in the 400-meter hurdles (56.16) and Justin Gilbert (Jr., Perry H.S.) in the hammer throw (153' 3").
     Third-place finishers were Chris Cruise in the 400 meters (49.28), Bryan Lopes (So., Dublin Coffman H.S.) in the 5000-meter race walk (29:38.90; NAIA provisional), Justin Jump (Fr., Wellington H.S.) in the discus (143' 1") and Chad Armstrong (Jr., Edgewood H.S.) in the hammer throw (150' 7").
     Malone will next send athletes to the NAIA National Championships in Fresno, California May 25-27.