March 29, 2008
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Pioneers Split Twinbill With Urbana On Friday Before Taking Two From Cedarville On SaturdayThe Malone College baseball team opened American Mideast Conference play this weekend by winning three of four games in a pair of home doubleheaders against Urbana University and Cedarville University. On Friday, Malone took the opener from Urbana 4-3 in 10 innings before falling in game two to the Blue Knights by a final score of 5-3. Then on Saturday, the Pioneers claimed victories in both of their match-ups with the Yellow Jackets, winning 5-3 in game one and 8-1 in the nightcap. Following the 3-1 weekend, Malone’s overall record now stands at 14-5 with a 3-1 mark in the AMC.
In game one versus Urbana (10-10 overall, 3-3 AMC), Malone scored once in the bottom of the second inning and once in the bottom of the third to take an early 2-0 advantage. The Blue Knights responded with a run in top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 2-1 and then knotted the game in the top of the seventh with a one-out double. The score then remained deadlocked at 2-2 until the top of tenth when Urbana grabbed a 3-2 lead with a two-out, run-scoring single. Malone fought back in the bottom of the inning, though, as senior right-fielder John Stallings (Louisville H.S.) tied the game by drawing a bases-loaded walk. Junior first baseman Ryan Baechel (GlenOak H.S.) then plated the winning run later in the inning with a clutch two-out, walk-off single. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Todd Liberatore (Tusc. Central Catholic H.S.) earned the victory (2-0) after working the final three innings, giving up one run on two hits. Senior right-hander Zach Winkhart (Canton Central Catholic H.S.) started the game and recorded a no decision after tossing the first seven innings, surrendering two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking three. Winkhart also helped his own cause at the plate, going 3-4 with one run scored while junior third baseman Zac Barson (Canton South H.S.) notched a pair of singles with one RBI.
Malone got on the scoreboard first in game two with a run in the bottom the second inning. Urbana tied the game with a run in the top of the third and then took the lead with three more runs in the top of the fourth. The Pioneers trimmed the deficit to 4-3 with solo runs in the bottom of the fourth and bottom of the fifth before the Blue Knights plated a run in the top of the sixth to push their advantage to 5-3. Malone was then unable to rally over the final two innings, falling by the two-run margin. Junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Hartong (Dalton H.S.) started on the mound and took the loss (1-2) after surrendering four runs (three earned) on seven hits over 4.1 innings of work. The Pioneers notched nine hits in the contest as Stallings went 3-4 with two stolen bases and senior left-fielder Chris Mandeville (Tuslaw H.S.) went 3-3 with a double and two singles.
In Saturday’s opener against Cedarville (7-16 overall, 2-6 AMC), Malone broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Yellow Jackets threatened in the top of the seventh by scoring twice and then bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs, but senior left-handed pitcher Jimmy Dowling (Tuslaw H.S.) induced a fly out to escape the inning and secure the 5-3 win. Junior right-hander Sam Campitella (Jackson H.S.) started on the mound and recorded his third victory of the season (3-0) after giving up one unearned run on five hits over six innings pitched. Campitella, who struck out seven in Saturday’s outing, has yet to surrender an earned run this season through 23.2 innings of work. Malone tallied eight hits in the game as freshman right fielder Jeff Shenker (Twinsburg H.S.) went 2-2 with one run scored and freshman infielder Justin Shiflett (Zane Trace H.S.) plated two runs on a fourth-inning double.
Saturday’s finale was knotted at 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth when the Pioneers put the game away with a seven-run outburst. The Yellow Jackets retired the first batter of the frame, but the next eight Pioneers recorded base hits to put the contest out of reach. Junior right-handed pitcher Adam Boudler (Louisville H.S.) started and notched the victory (3-1) after holding Cedarville to one run on eight hits over six innings. Malone ripped 13 hits in the game as Stallings went 2-4 with two stolen bases, one run scored and one run batted in. Baechel and senior centerfielder Troy Richeson (Minerva H.S.) each clubbed two-run singles in the seven-run, sixth inning.
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