Home / Archived Pioneer Updates

ApplyBookmarkApplyText LargerText Down

March 31, 2008

March 31, 2008     (#3963)
For immediate release…..

Malone College Sports This Week
Mar. 31 (Mon.) - Women's Golf hosts Ohio Cup (Zoar Golf Course; Zoar, OH)

Mar. 31-Apr. 1 (Mon.-Tue.) - Men's Golf at University of Cincinnati Invitational (Cincinnati, OH)

Apr. 1 (Tue.) - Baseball at Walsh University; 1:00 p.m. DH

Apr. 2 (Wed.) - Baseball at University of Akron; 3:00 p.m. (single game)

Apr. 3 (Thu.) - Softball home against Ursuline College; 4:00 p.m. DH

Apr. 4 (Fri.) - Baseball at University of Rio Grande; 1:00 p.m. DH
                     - Men's Tennis home against The College of Wooster; 4:00 p.m.

Apr. 5 (Sat.) - Men's and Women's Track & Field hosts Jack Hazen Open; 7:00 a.m. (weigh-in, pump), 9:15 a.m. (5K race); 10:00 a.m. (track events) NOTE: For complete information on the meet, visit www.malone.edu/7570
                      - Baseball at Shawnee State University; 1:00 p.m. DH
                      - Softball at Point Park (PA) University; 1:00 p.m. DH
                      - Women's Tennis at Univ. of Northwest Ohio; 1:00 p.m.

Last Week at a Glance

Baseball - Malone defeats: 
                         Notre Dame (OH) College  3-0
                         Urbana University  4-3 (10 inn.)
                         Cedarville University  5-3
                         Cedarville University  8-1
                    Malone loses to:
                         Notre Dame (OH) College  3-1
                         Kent State University  16-4
                         Urbana University  5-3
                    CURRENT RECORD:  14-5  (3-1 AMC)

Men's and Women's Track & Field - Malone women capture team title among 13 teams at Wheeling Jesuit Invitational (with 10 event winners); Malone men place third (with five event winners)

Softball - Malone defeats:
                        Urbana University  5-3
                 Malone loses to:
                        Urbana University  4-3
                        Carlow (PA) University  3-2
                        Carlow (PA) University  2-1
                 CURRENT RECORD:  6-6  (0-4 AMC North)

Men's Golf - Malone finished seventh among 22 teams at the University of the Cumberlands (KY) Invitational last Thursday and Friday

Women's Tennis - Malone loses to:
                                           Walsh University  9-0
                                           Baldwin-Wallace College  8-1
                                  CURRENT RECORD:  0-7 (0-1 AMC)

Baseball Tallies 4-3 Record On The Week

     After a two-week layoff because of winter weather conditions, the Malone College baseball team was finally able to return to action last week with a busy seven-game slate.  The Pioneers opened the week on Monday by splitting a pair of home games against Notre Dame (Ohio) College.  Malone began the day at Thurman Munson Stadium with a 3-0 shutout win but then fell in game two by a final score of 3-1.  On Tuesday, the squad traveled to NCAA Division I Kent State University where it fell 16-4 in a single, nine-inning contest.  Malone then opened American Mideast Conference play on Friday and Saturday 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 4-3 week, Malone’s record now stands at 14-5 overall with a 3-1 mark in AMC play.
     In game one against Notre Dame, the Pioneers struck for all three of their runs in the bottom of the third inning with four consecutive singles and a Falcon error.  Notre Dame was unable to get any offense going throughout the contest as junior pitchers Sam Campitella (Jackson H.S.) and Ryan Hartong (Dalton H.S.) combined for a two-hit shutout.  Campitella earned his second victory of the year (2-0) after working six innings, surrendering just one hit while walking four.  Hartong entered the game in the seventh and recorded his second save of the young season after giving up one hit and striking out two.  Malone recorded six hits in the contest, all singles.  Senior left-fielder Chris Mandeville (Tuslaw H.S.) went 2-3 at the plate with one run scored and senior right-fielder John Stallings (Louisville H.S.) registered an RBI single and a stolen base.
     The Falcons jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in Monday’s nightcap with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Malone cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the second after a pair of two-out singles and an error but Notre Dame got the run back in the top of the third with a bases loaded walk.  Although he was able to limit the damage in the third, junior starting pitcher Adam Boudler (Louisville H.S.) was the tough-luck loser (2-1) after giving up the three runs (only one of which was earned) on six hits over five innings pitched.  Sophomore left-hander Todd Liberatore (Tusc. Central Catholic H.S.) worked the final two innings with scoreless relief but Malone was unable to rally, falling by the 3-1 final.  Freshman infielder Justin Shiflett (Zane Trace H.S.) went 2-3 at the plate in the contest and junior second baseman Mike Tozzi (Sandy Valley H.S.) singled and scored the Pioneers’ lone run in the bottom of the second.
     In Tuesday’s game at Kent State, the Golden Flashes racked up a total of 19 hits, including five home runs, as they pulled away for the nine-inning victory.  Malone jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as junior shortstop Scott McIlvain (Marlington H.S.) walked, advanced to third on a single by junior third baseman Zac Barson (Canton South H.S.), and then stole home.  Kent State responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second before Barson delivered an RBI single in the top of the third to knot the score at 2-2.  The hosts quickly took command, though, with a big seven-run third inning that put them on top 9-2.  The Golden Flashes then tacked on at least one run in each of the final five innings en route to the 16-4 final.  Senior left-handed pitcher Jimmy Dowling (Tuslaw H.S.) started on the mound for Malone and took the loss (1-2) after surrendering seven runs (six earned) over 2.1 innings pitched.  The Pioneers tallied 10 hits in the game as McIlvain went 3-4 at the plate with a pair of stolen bases.  Barson also went 3-4 with a pair of run-scoring singles and senior centerfielder Troy Richeson (Minerva H.S.) tallied a single, a double, two runs scored and a stolen base.
     In game one versus Urbana on Friday, 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 the 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 the 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 Stallings 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.  Liberatore 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 Barson 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.  Hartong 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 Mandeville went 3-3 with a double and two singles.
     In Saturday’s opener against Cedarville, 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 Dowling induced a fly out to escape the inning and secure the 5-3 win.  Campitella 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 Shiflett 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.  Boudler 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.  In addition, Baechel and Richeson each clubbed two-run singles in the seven-run, sixth inning.
     This week, Malone (14-5 overall, 3-1 AMC) will travel to local rival Walsh University (12-7 overall, 6-0 AMC) for a pair of games on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. before facing off with the University of Akron (11-8 overall) on Wednesday in a single nine-inning contest, slated to start at 3:00 p.m.  On Friday, Malone will travel to the University of Rio Grande (13-10 overall, 1-1 AMC) for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader before wrapping up the week on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. twinbill at Shawnee State University (6-14 overall, 1-1 AMC).

Women's Track & Field Team Captures Wheeling Jesuit Invitational; Men Place Third

     The Malone College men's and women's track & field teams competed at the Wheeling Jesuit (WV) University Invitational last Friday and Saturday and the women's team came away with a team championship among a 13-team field while the Pioneer men's team finished third overall.  In addition, the women's team tallied 10 event winners while the men's squad had five event champions.
     The Malone women tallied 210 points to easily outdistance runner-up Wheeling Jesuit, which had 174 points.  Penn State-Behrend took third (86), Grove City (PA) College was fourth (68.5) and Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College rounded out the top five (55).
     The Malone men finished with 139 points for their third-place finish as Penn State-Behrend took the men's team title with 185.5 points.  Grove City finished as runners-up (149.5), Wheeling Jesuit was fourth (111) and Bethany (WV) College rounded out the top five (45).
     The women's team posted an impressive total of 10 event victories that included Holly Motter (Jr., Mt. Union, PA) in the high jump (4' 9.75") and the long jump (16' 6.5"), Laura McElrath (Sr., Tallmadge H.S.) in the 100-meter hurdles (17.43) and the heptathlon (4147 points), Vallie Scott (Jr., West Branch H.S.) in the 400 meters (1:00.10), Kim Winton (Jr., Medina H.S.) in the 800 meters (2:23.03), Becky Rospotynski (So., Copley H.S.) in the pole vault (11' 3"), Emily Alderfer (So., Urbana H.S.) in the hammer throw (136' 5"), Katie Murphy (Jr., St. Vincent-St. Mary H.S.) in the javelin (101' 10") and the women's 4x400-meter relay team of Megan Patton (Jr., Perry H.S.), Laura Scott (Fr., West Branch H.S.), Vallie Scott and Winton (4:10.52).  In addition, McElrath's point total in the heptathlon qualified her provisionally for the NAIA outdoor national meet.
     The men's team notched five event wins of their own including Chris Sinick (So., Field H.S.) in the 800 meters (1:55.75), Shane McLaughlin (So., Caldwell H.S.) in the high jump (6' 3.5"), Steven Young (Fr., Gladstone, MO) in the triple jump (42' 10.25"), Brady West (Sr., West Muskingum H.S.) in the decathlon (5946 points) and the men's 4x400-meter relay team of Bryan Krieger (So., Cuyahoga Falls H.S.), Garrett Oliver (So., Benjamin Logan H.S.), Jason Brueckner (Sr., Crestview H.S.) and Chris Cruise (Sr., Field H.S.) in 3:24.41.
     The women had numerous athletes who earned top-three finishes.  Taking second place in an event for the Malone women were Emily Grad (Fr., Field H.S.) in the 1500 meters (4:50.61), Danielle Wuensch (Fr., New London H.S.) in the 5000 meters (19:37.32), Megan Patton in the 400-meter hurdles (1:11.53), Emily Alderfer in the shot put (39' 5"), Lori Ickes (Fr., Smithville H.S.) in the discus (123' 8") and Beth Costello (Fr., Canton South H.S.) in the heptathlon (3463 points).
     Taking third place for the women were Kayleigh Bildstein (Fr., Madison H.S.) in the 800 meters (2:24.02), Rebekah Genter (Jr., Crestview H.S.) in the 1500 meters (4:50.77), Bailey Teague (Fr., CVCA) in the 100-meter hurdles (18.04) and Amy Gladd (Fr., Butler, PA) in the heptathlon (3339 points).
     The men also had numerous athletes taking top-three spots.  Second-place finishers were Mike Coates (Sr., Sandy Valley H.S.) in the 800 meters (1:58.21), Jason Brueckner in the 400-meter hurdles (57.00), Kyle Randolf (Fr., Galion H.S.) in the 3000-meter steeplechase (10:15.01), Justin Jump (Jr., Wellington H.S.) in the discus (140' 8") and Shane McLaughlin in the decathlon (5378 points).
     Finishing third for the men were Bryan Krieger in the 400 meters (51.42), Chris Cruise in the 800 meters (1:59.97), Garrett Oliver in the 400-meter hurdles (57.34), Keith Burns (Jr., Minerva H.S.) in 3000-meter steeplechase (10:42.37), Justin Jump in the hammer throw (148' 11") and the men's 4x400-meter relay team (B team) of Jon Easterling (Jr., Ashtabula H.S.), Nik Schweikert (Jr., Beavercreek H.S.), Mike Coates and Chris Sinick (3:33.64).
     This week, the Malone teams will host the Jack Hazen Open on Saturday.  A weigh-in and pump portion of a pump-and-run will be held from 7:00 - 8:15 a.m. (in the Wellness Center) with a 5K run to follow at 9:15 a.m.  Then, a full track meet will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the Malone track.  For complete information on the meet, visit www.malone.edu/7570.

Softball Splits Games With Urbana, Suffers Pair Of One-Run Defeats To Carlow
     The Malone College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at Urbana University on Tuesday afternoon as the squad fell by a 4-3 final in game one before bouncing back in the nightcap to record a 5-3 victory.  Then, after having a pair of games postponed on Friday because of the weather, the squad returned to action on Saturday at home, losing a pair of American Mideast Conference North Division games to Carlow (PA) University by final scores of 3-2 and 2-1.  In both of Saturday’s contests, the visiting Celtics jumped out to an early lead before the Pioneers fought back in the late innings.  Malone was unable to complete the comeback in either game, though, coming up one run short in both contests.  Following the tough 1-3 week, the Pioneers’ overall record now stands at 6-6 with a 0-4 mark in the AMC North.
     In Tuesday’s opener at Urbana, Malone entered the bottom of the sixth inning with a 2-0 lead before the Blue Knights plated a pair of runs to knot the score at 2-2.  Sophomore second baseman Leslie McCammon (Wadsworth H.S.) then clobbered a solo home run in the top of the seventh to put the Pioneers back in front 3-2 but Urbana once again rallied in the bottom of the inning, scoring runs on consecutive two-out base hits to secure a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory.  Freshman pitcher Jessica Krska (Norton H.S.) started on the mound for Malone and earned a no decision after tossing five innings, giving up two runs (one earned).  Senior pitcher Kathryn Bzdafka (Avon Lake H.S.) sat down three straight Blue Knight batters in the sixth but then took the loss (1-2) after surrendering the tying and winning runs in the seventh.  The Pioneers tallied four hits in the contest as freshman catcher Karre Thompson (East Canton H.S.) and senior shortstop Holly Christopher (Garfield H.S.) each smacked doubles. 
     Despite the tough loss in game one, Malone was able to turn the tables in game two as the squad scored three times in the top of the seventh inning to record a come-from-behind 5-3 victory.  Urbana held an early 1-0 advantage in the nightcap before the Pioneers pulled ahead with two runs in the top of the sixth.  The Blue Knights responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-2 lead but the visitors then rallied back with a three-run seventh to regain the advantage at 5-3.  The Blue Knights threatened in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases with no one out but Krska then entered the game in relief and induced a double play and a fly out to preserve the exciting victory with her first career save.  Junior pitcher Ashleigh Ralston (Wadsworth H.S.) started the game on the mound and notched her third win of the season (3-2) after working six innings, surrendering three runs on nine hits while striking out two.  The Pioneers smacked nine hits in the game as Christopher went 2-4 with a run-scoring single and two runs scored.  Sophomore outfielder Laura Blackburn (Thomas Worthington H.S.) contributed with a pair of doubles and senior third baseman Jenna Vrabel (Ursuline H.S.) drove in two runs with a two-out double and a bases-loaded walk.
     In game one against Carlow on Saturday, the Celtics scored once in the top of the first inning and two more times in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead.  Malone then got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth as freshman infielder Sarah Kosmos (Northwest H.S.) scored from first base on a two-out Blackburn double.  The Pioneers then tacked on another run in the bottom of the seventh as freshman outfielder Elizabeth Sarkissian (Twinsburg H.S.) delivered a two-out, RBI single.  Malone then put runners on first and second base with two outs but was unable to bring the tying run home as Carlow held on for the 3-2 win.  Krska started on the mound and suffered her first loss of the year (2-1) after surrendering three unearned runs on six hits over four innings pitched.  The Pioneers registered five hits in the contest as Blackburn went 2-3 at the plate with an RBI while freshman catcher Laura Ronk (St. Vincent-St. Mary H.S.) also went 2-3 with a triple and one run scored.
     Saturday’s second contest remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Carlow plated a pair of runs to take a 2-0 advantage.  Malone cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth as senior centerfielder Ashlee Locker (Strasburg H.S.) doubled, advanced to third on an error and then stole home.  However, the Pioneers were unable to manufacture any more runs over the final two innings, falling by the 2-1 final.  Ralston went the distance on the mound for Malone, suffering the loss (3-3) after giving up two runs on six hits over seven innings of work.  The Pioneers posted six hits in the contest but left seven runners on base and did not record more than one base hit in any inning.
     This week, Malone (6-6 overall, 0-4 AMC North) will host Ursuline College (1-5 overall, 0-2 AMC North) on Thursday in a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader before traveling to Point Park (PA) University (5-5 overall, 0-0 AMC North) on Saturday for two more games starting at 1:00 p.m.

Men's Golf Finishes Seventh At Cumberlands Invitational

     The Malone College men's golf team finished in seventh place among 22 teams at the University of the Cumberlands (KY) Invitational last Thursday and Friday.  Malone tallied a two-day 36-hole score of 632 (+56) as Lindenwood (MO) University won the event at 607 (+31).  Ohio Dominican University took second (611), Campbellsville (KY)  University placed third (617), Lee (TN) University was fourth (619) and Lindsey Wilson (KY) College rounded out the top five (622).
     Matt Strayer (Sr., Riverside H.S.) led the way for Malone with a +11 score of 155 (76-79) to finish 19th overall while Ben Smith (So., Carrollton H.S.) was close behind in 25th at 157 (81-76).  In addition, Michael Strayer (So., Riverside H.S.) posted a 161 (80-81) while Darren Phipps (Sr., Lake H.S.) also carded a 161 (79-82).
     This week, Malone will compete at the University of Cincinnati Invitational on Monday and Tuesday.

Women’s Tennis Loses To Walsh, Baldwin-Wallace

     The Malone College women's tennis team lost both its matches last week - to Walsh University (away) last Wednesday 9-0 and to Baldwin-Wallace College (away) last Saturday by the score of 8-1.  With the 0-2 week, Malone now stands at 0-7 on the season.
     Scores for the matches (in order -- Walsh, Baldwin-Wallace) were as follows:
#1 Cami Urdea (Sr., Brasov, Romania)                L 6-2, 6-0             L 6-2, 6-1
#2 Jackie Quilter (Sr., GlenOak H.S.)                     L 6-3, 6-3             L 6-2, 6-1
#3 April Victor (So., Tallmadge H.S.)                      L 6-7, 6-3/10-6    W 6-1, 6-2
#4 Lynsey Fuller (So., Canton South H.S.)           L 6-4, 6-1              L 6-4, 7-5
#5 Allison Hinkle (Sr., Jefferson Area H.S.)          L 6-1, 6-2             L 6-0, 6-3
#6 Leah Pinkney (Sr., Edgewood Senior H.S.)    L 6-0, 6-2             L (forfeit)
#1 Urdea/Quilter                                                        L 8-3                      L 8-2
#2 Victor/Fuller                                                           L 8-2                      L 8-4
#3 Hinkle/Pinkney                                                     L 8-0                      L (forfeit)
     This week, Malone (0-7) will compete at the University of Northwest Ohio on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in its only match of the week.