Men's and Women's Track & Field - Malone women won the Wheeling Jesuit (WV) University Invitational (among 10 teams) while the men's team placed third (among 13 teams) last Saturday (one school record and several NAIA qualifying times were posted); Malone also sent race walkers to the Cedarville University Invitational last Saturday (three NAIA automatic qualifying times were posted)
Baseball - Malone defeats:
Notre Dame (OH) College 9-8
Baldwin-Wallace College 4-0
Seton Hill (PA) University 2-1
Malone loses to:
Notre Dame (OH) College 13-12 (10 inn.)
Youngstown State University 7-4
Seton Hill (PA) University 5-1
Seton Hill (PA) University 5-4
Seton Hill (PA) University 6-1
CURRENT RECORD: 10-15 (3-1 AMC North)
Women's Golf - Malone finished seventh among 14 teams at the Capital University Invitational last Friday and Saturday
After having five straight doubleheaders cancelled or postponed due to rainy weather over the past few weeks, the Malone College softball team was finally able to return to action this week, splitting six non-conference contests. The Pioneers opened play on Monday at home with a 7-1 win over NCAA Division II Ohio Valley (WV) University before falling 8-1 in game two. On Wednesday, the Pioneers hosted NCAA Division II #15 Gannon (PA) University, falling 8-1 in game one before bouncing back to claim a 6-3 victory in the nightcap. Malone then wrapped up the week on Saturday at NCAA Division III Hiram College with a 4-1 loss in the opener and a 4-1 win in game two. Following the 3-3 week, the Pioneers are now 5-9 overall with a 0-0 record in the American Mideast Conference South Division.
In Monday’s opener with Ohio Valley, the Pioneers scored at least one run in each of the first five innings as the squad rolled to the 7-1 victory. Senior Cori Helm (Marion, IN) went the distance on the mound to claim the victory after holding the Fighting Scots to just one earned run on three hits over seven innings pitched. Freshman Leslie McCammon (Wadsworth H.S.) drove in four runs, setting a new Malone single-game record in the contest (and tying the current NAIA national record) by smacking an incredible three home runs in just three plate appearances. In addition, sophomore Ashleigh Ralston (Wadsworth H.S.) clubbed a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to give the Pioneers four homers in the game.
Against Ohio Valley in game two, the Fighting Scots scored four runs in the third inning and four more runs in the fourth to pull away for the 8-1 victory. Junior Kathryn Bzdafka (Avon Lake H.S.) started on the mound for Malone and suffered the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits over five and one-third innings pitched. Bzdafka helped her own cause at the plate, though, by going 2-3 with a run-scoring single.
In game one with Gannon on Wednesday, the Golden Knights tallied six runs over the first two innings en route to the 8-1 triumph. Helm started on the mound and took the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) on six hits over one and two-third innings pitched. The Pioneers were held to five hits in the contest and committed four errors with Malone’s lone run coming on Bzdafka’s two-out, run scoring single in the bottom of the first inning.
In Wednesday’s nightcap with Gannon, the Golden Knights jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead but were then shut out over the remainder of the game as the Pioneers fought back for the 6-3 win. Bzdafka went the distance on the mound for Malone to record her first win of the season after giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits. Junior Holly Christopher (Garfield H.S.) drilled a two-run double while Bzdafka went 2-2 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored.
Against Hiram in game one on Saturday, Malone was held to one run on four hits and committed one error in the 4-1 loss. Bzdafka started and took the loss (1-4) for Malone after allowing three runs (two earned) on ten hits over four and one-third innings pitched. Christopher, junior Ashlee Locker (Strasburg H.S.), freshman Laura Blackburn (Worthington H.S.) and sophomore Elisha Bierman (Keystone H.S.) each recorded one single in the contest as the Pioneer offense struggled to get on track.
In Saturday’s finale against Hiram, the Terriers scored once in the bottom of the third inning to take an early 1-0 lead, but Malone clawed back into the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull ahead 2-1. The Pioneers then tallied two more runs in the top of the seventh inning to secure the 4-1 win. Helm went the distance on the mound for Malone, recording her second victory of the week (3-3) after limiting Hiram to one run on nine hits over seven innings pitched. Blackburn went 2-4 at the plate with a run-scoring double while freshman Morgan Heacock (Mt. Gilead H.S.) was 2-2 and scored one run.
This week, Malone (5-9, 0-0 AMC S) will host Geneva (PA) College (13-10, 0-0 AMC N) on Tuesday in a home doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m. (NOTE: This DH was switched from Wed., April 4th). The squad will then open AMC South play on Thursday with a 3:30 p.m. make-up doubleheader at home against Urbana University (9-13, 0-0 AMC S). The Pioneers will then travel to Shawnee State University (10-5, 0-0 AMC S) on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for a pair of games against the Bears.
Men's Golf Team Finishes Fifth At Eastern Kentucky Invitational
The Malone College men's golf team competed at the Eastern Kentucky University Invitational last Friday and Saturday among a mostly NCAA Div. I field and emerged with an excellent fifth-place finish among a 15-team field. Malone posted a two-day total of 880 (289-290-301) as Eastern Kentucky won the event at 837 (284-275-278) while Morehead State (KY) University placed second at 862. Miami University was third at 871 and the University of Cincinnati took fourth at 872.
Darren Phipps (Jr., Lake H.S.) led Malone with a score of 217 (73-69-75) for a 13th-place finish overall. Scotty Jones (Sr., East Palestine H.S.) followed with a 219 (72-71-76), Jordan Grubb (Sr., Lake H.S.) posted a 220 (71-74-75), Garret Barbush (Sr., Manheim, PA) carded a 224 (73-76-75) and Matt Strayer (Jr., Riverside H.S.) had a 248 (87-77-84). Although Grant Gates (Sr., River Valley H.S.) did not compete for the team, but rather competed as an individual, he led all Malone scores with a 10th-place finish overall at 216 (72-71-73).
This week, Malone (B) will compete at the Westminster (PA) College Invitational on Monday (12:00 p.m.) in the team's only match of the week.
Women's Track Team Wins Wheeling Jesuit Invitational, Men Place Third; Race Walkers Compete At Cedarville
The Malone College women's track & field team captured the Wheeling Jesuit (WV) University last Saturday among a 10-team field as the Pioneers easily won the meet with a score of 254.5 as Wheeling Jesuit placed second at 159.5. Westminster (PA) College was third at 112.5, Grove City (PA) College took fourth at 54 and Bethany (WV) College rounded out the top five at 47 points.
The Malone men finished third among its 13-team field at the same meet as the team finished with 178 points, just one point behind runner-up Grove City, which had 179 points. Wheeling Jesuit won the men's meet with 191 points. Bethany took fourth with 65 points and West Virginia Wesleyan University rounded out the top five with 47 points.
For the Malone women, Ashley Currence (Sr., East Canton H.S.) set a new school record in the triple jump with a first-place mark of 37' 9.25" (NAIA automatic qualifying mark). Brooke Gasser (Sr., Norwayne H.S.) and Laura McElrath (Jr., Tallmadge H.S.) also posted NAIA automatic marks with first and second-place finishes, respectively, in the heptathlon at 4368 and 4366 points. Currence also posted a provisional mark in the long jump at 17' 10" (2nd place) while Emily Alderfer (Fr., Urbana H.S.) notched a provisional mark in the shot put with a first-place effort of 41' 10".
Other first-place finishers on the day for the women included Brittany Davies (Sr., Cedarville H.S.) in the 800 meters (2:20.11), McElrath in the 100-meter hurdles (15.44), Kim Winton (So., Medina H.S.) in the 400-meter hurdles (1:08.14), Sarah Hines (Fr., Northmor H.S.) in the 3000-meter steeplechase (12:04.00), Katie Bagley (So., Van Wert H.S.) in the 5000 meters (18:40.26), Gasser in the javelin (125' 4") and Alderfer in the hammer throw (135' 6"). In addition, the women's 4x400-meter relay team of Winton, Megan Patton (So., Perry H.S.), Davies and Vallie Scott (So., West Branch H.S.) placed first in a time of 4:02.68.
Second-place finishers for the women included Sasha Clarke (So., Maple Heights H.S.) in the 100 meters (13.25), Scott in the 200 meters (26.25) and 400 meters (58.94), Patton in the 100-meter hurdles (15.80), Kalie Hauenstein (Fr., Ashland H.S.) in the 5000 meters (18:45.03), Faith Nicholson (Sr., McMurray, PA) in the high jump (5' 3") and Holly Motter (So., Mount Union, PA) in the triple jump (35' 4"). In addition, the women's 4x100-meter relay team of Currence, Scott, Motter and Sasha Clarke finished second in 50.45 seconds.
For the men's team, Brady West (Sr., West Muskingum H.S.) posted an NAIA provisional qualifying mark in the decathlon with 6178 points (second place).
First-place finishers for the men included Jeb Ford (So., Minerva H.S.) in the 100 meters (11.28), Chris Sinick (Fr., Field H.S.) in the 800 meters (1:55.15), Andy Preston (Fr., Bradford, PA) in the 400-meter hurdles (56.54), Chad Armstrong (Sr., Ashtabula H.S.) in the hammer throw (149' 9") and Tyler Davis (Jr., Teays Valley H.S.) in the high jump (6' 6.25").
Second-place finishers for the men included Justin Jump (So., Wellington H.S.) in the hammer throw (141' 1") and discus (148' 0") and Shane McLaughlin (Fr., Caldwell H.S.) in the high jump (6' 5"). In addition, the men's 4x400-meter relay team of Bryan Krieger (Fr., Cuyahoga Falls H.S.), Jon Easterling (So., Ashtabula H.S.), Jay Brueckner (Jr., Crestview H.S.) and Chris Cruise (Jr., Field H.S.) placed second in a time of 3:24.14.
At the Cedarville Invitational Saturday, Malone had three race walkers from the men's team post NAIA automatic qualifying times as Chris Diaz (So., McAllen, TX) finished second (25:25.80), Brad Sinick (Sr., Field H.S.) took fourth (26:32.97) and Joe Carmany (Sr., New Middletown Springfield H.S.) placed fifth (26:33.81) in the 5000-meter race walk.
This week, the Malone teams will compete at the Ohio University Invitational on Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
Baseball Posts 3-5 Record During Busy Week of Competition
The Malone College baseball team dodged the spring rain drops last week to post a 3-5 record as the squad competed in a total of eight games over a busy six days. The Pioneers opened play on Monday by splitting a make-up doubleheader at Notre Dame (OH) College. Malone dropped the opener with the Falcons 13-12 in ten innings but then bounced back to claim a 9-8 win in game two (Monday’s second contest was shortened to six innings due to darkness). On Tuesday, the squad recorded a 4-0, nine-inning victory at home over Baldwin-Wallace College before falling at NCAA Division I Youngstown State University on Wednesday by the final score of 7-4. On Friday, the Pioneers hosted a doubleheader with Seton Hill (PA) University, falling 5-1 in the opener before bouncing back to claim a 2-1 victory in game two. Malone then wrapped up the week on Saturday by dropping a pair of games at Seton Hill by the final scores of 5-4 and 6-1. Following the 3-5 week, the Pioneers' overall record now stands at 10-15 with a 3-1 mark in the American Mideast Conference North Division.
In Monday’s opener with Notre Dame, Malone trailed 11-8 after six innings but then rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh to take a 12-11 lead. The Falcons were able to answer back in the bottom of the seventh, though, with a two-out run-scoring single that sent the game into extra innings with the score knotted at 12. The contest then remained deadlocked until the bottom of the tenth inning when Notre Dame senior third baseman Mike Novak delivered a walk-off solo home run to give the Falcons the dramatic 13-12 victory. Sophomore Scott McIlvain (Marlington H.S.) worked two and one-third innings of scoreless relief before giving up the lead-off homerun in the bottom of the tenth for his first loss of the season (0-1). The Pioneers pounded 17 hits in the contest as sophomore Zac Barson (Canton South H.S.) went 4-5 at the plate with two RBI while senior Bob Dubovec (Kenston H.S.) went 3-5 and drove in three runs.
In game two with Notre Dame on Monday, Malone scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 9-6 lead. The Falcons would then make things interesting in the bottom of the inning as Notre Dame right fielder Eric Pelot clubbed a two-out, two-run homer to cut the Pioneers’ advantage to one at 9-8. Sophomore starting pitcher Sam Campitella (Jackson H.S.) was able to keep his composure, though, and preserve the win by retiring Novak for the final out of the darkness-shortened contest. Campitella worked all six innings for the Pioneers, recording his second victory of the season (2-1), after surrendering eight runs (four earned) on ten hits while striking out four and walking two. Dubovec was 3-3 with two RBI and two runs scored while Barson went 3-4 at the plate with a run-scoring single. In addition, junior Chris Mandeville (Tuslaw H.S.) clubbed a lead-off homer in the top of the second inning and junior Jimmy Dowling (Tuslaw H.S.) crossed the plate three times as a pinch-runner.
Against Baldwin-Wallace on Tuesday, sophomore Ryan Hartong (Dalton H.S.) tossed a nine-inning, complete game shutout. Hartong limited the Yellow Jackets to just four hits as he struck out nine while walking just one. As Hartong stifled the Baldwin-Wallace batters, the Pioneer offense slowly chipped away, tallying single runs in the first, third, fifth, and seventh innings en route to the 4-0 victory. The Jackets’ best scoring opportunity came on a fifth inning single to right field with two outs and two runners on base, but the BW runner attempting to score from second was gunned down at home on Mandeville’s strong throw from right field. McIlvain and Barson each recorded three hits in the contest while Dubovec drove in three of the Pioneers’ four runs.
In Wednesday’s nine-inning contest against Youngstown State, Malone scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to take a 4-0 lead but then committed two errors and surrendered seven unearned runs in the bottom of the inning en route to the 7-4 defeat. Sophomore Jake Booth (Toronto H.S.) suffered his first loss of the season (0-1) after giving up three of the seven unearned runs on two hits. Senior Josh Spencer (Canton Central Catholic H.S.) recorded three of the Pioneers’ four singles on the afternoon with two RBI and one run scored.
In Friday’s opener against Seton Hill, the Griffins tallied two quick unearned runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Malone posted one run in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to 2-1 but was then shut out over the remaining six innings of the 5-1, seven-inning loss. Sophomore Adam Boudler (Louisville H.S.) went the distance on the mound, suffering his fourth loss of the season (1-4) after giving up five runs (two earned) on seven hits over seven innings pitched. Dubovec drove in the Pioneers’ lone run with a two-out single in the bottom of the first inning.
Against Seton Hill in game two on Friday, the Griffins once again struck quickly with a run in the top of the first inning. However, this early score would turn out to be Seton Hill’s only run of the game as starting pitcher Jimmy Dowling shut down the Griffin offense over the remainder of the contest. Malone was able to tally single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull ahead 2-1 and then Dowling blanked Seton Hill over the remaining three innings to preserve the one-run victory. The win marked the 5’9” left-hander’s second victory of the season (2-1) as he allowed just one run on nine hits while striking out six and walking two over nine innings pitched. Hartong went 1-3 at the plate and drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly.
In the opener against Seton Hill on Saturday, the Pioneers scored once in the top of the sixth inning to stretch their advantage to 4-2 but then surrendered three runs in the bottom of the seventh, resulting in the 5-4 defeat. Hartong took the loss (2-2) after entering the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners on base and no outs. Upon entering the contest, Hartong gave up a pair of singles and then, later in the inning with the bases loaded, surrendered the winning run after hitting a Griffin batter with a pitch. Eight different Pioneers recorded at least one hit in the contest as McIlvain went 2-3 with one run scored.
In Saturday’s finale against Seton Hill, Malone was held to one run on six hits and committed five errors in the 6-1 defeat. Freshman Todd Liberatore (Tusc. Central Catholic H.S.) started and took the loss (1-2) after giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits over six innings pitched. Spencer went 2-4 at the plate while Dubovec crushed a solo homerun.
This week, Malone (10-15, 3-1 AMC N) will take on the University of Akron (12-8, 2-4 MAC) on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. as the squad will look to record their second straight victory over the NCAA Division I Zips (the Pioneers defeated Akron 13-12 last season). Then on Friday, Malone will travel to Point Park (PA) University (8-5, 0-0 AMC N) for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader before returning home on Saturday for two more games with Point Park, also starting at 1:00 p.m.
Women's Golf Team Places Seventh At Capital Invitational
The Malone College women's golf team posted a seventh-place finish among a 14-team field at the Capital University Invitational last Friday and Saturday. Malone tallied a two-day score of 761 (379-382) as DePauw (IN) University took the team title at 654 (319-335). Otterbein College and Olivet (MI) College tied for second at 699, Ohio Northern University was fourth at 710 and John Carroll University rounded out the top five at 740.
Elena Duncan (Fr., Winona Lake H.S.) paced the Pioneers with a 25th-place finish overall at 184 (90-94) while Jen Blocker (Fr., Westerville H.S.) was close behind at 188 (95-93). Megan Grubb (Jr., Lake H.S.) posted a 192 (99-93), Laurie Grubb (Fr., Lake H.S.) carded a 213 (111-102) and Jenny Green (Jr., Oak Harbor H.S.) had a 219 (95-124). Carinna Baldner (Jr., Hillsdale H.S.) competed as an individual and finished with a score of 238 (124-114).
This week, Malone is idle and will next compete at the Bethel (IN) College Invitational on April 12th.
Scores for the matches (in order -- Ashland, Wilmington, Cedarville) were as follows:
#1 Cami Urdea (Jr., Brasov, Romania) L 6-4, 6-2 L 6-1, 6-2 -----
#1 Ann Marie Burton(So., Wadsworth H.S.) ----- ----- L 6-2, 6-1
#2 Cami Urdea (Jr., Brasov, Romania) ----- ----- L 6-4, 6-3
#2 Ann Marie Burton (So., Wadsworth H.S.) L 6-2, 2-6/10-4 W 6-3, 6-1 -----
#3 Emily Farls (Sr., Beaver, PA) L 6-3, 6-3 W 6-1, 3-6/10-7 W 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
#4 April Victor (Fr., Tallmadge H.S.) L 6-3, 6-2 W 6-3, 6-4 L 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
#5 Lynsey Fuller (Fr., Canton South H.S.) L 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 W 8-6, 6-3 W 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
#6 Jackie Quilter (Jr., GlenOak H.S.) L forfeit (injury) L forfeit (injury) -----
#6 Erin Martin (Jr., Beaver, PA) ----- ----- L 6-0, 6-1
#1 Urdea/Burton L 9-7 W 8-2 W 8-5
#2 Farls/Victor L 8-5 W 8-6 L 8-2
#3 Quilter/Fuller L forfeit (injury) L forfeit (injury) -----
#3 Fuller/Erin Martin ----- ----- L 8-4
This week, the team will host Geneva (PA) College on Monday at 3:00 p.m. and will finish out the week by traveling to Tiffin University on Tuesday for a 12:00 p.m. match.
