April 9, 2008

Cleveland State Rallies For 8-4 Victory Over Malone

 
The Malone College baseball team fell at NCAA Division I Cleveland State University on Wednesday evening by a final score of 8-4.  The Pioneers trailed 4-0 in the early going before fighting back to knot the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning.  The Vikings (11-12 overall) quickly responded, however, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh and two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull away for the 8-4, nine-inning victory.  Following the defeat, the Pioneers’ overall record now stands at 20-9 on the year.
 
Wednesday’s game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Cleveland State pushed four runs across to take a 4-0 lead.  A double and four straight Malone singles cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the sixth.  Junior catcher Zac Barson (Canton South H.S.) then knotted the score in the seventh after ripping a lead-off triple and coming home to score on a single by senior left-fielder Chris Mandeville (Tuslaw H.S.).  The Pioneers were unable to grab the lead, though, and the Vikings regained control of the contest with four runs over the next two innings.  Sophomore right-handed pitcher Justin Corbett (Cuyahoga Falls H.S.) took the loss (0-1) in relief after giving up the two go-ahead runs in the bottom of the seventh.  Junior right-hander Ryan Hartong (Dalton H.S.) started on the mound and earned a no decision after surrendering four runs on seven hits over four innings pitched.  The Pioneers tallied 12 hits in the contest as junior shortstop Scott McIlvain (Marlington H.S.) went 3-5 at the plate with one RBI. 
 
Malone (20-9 overall, 9-3 AMC) returns to American Mideast Conference play on Friday when it hosts a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against Ohio Dominican University (20-8 overall, 9-1 AMC), currently in first place atop the AMC standings.  The squad will then wrap up its busy week on Saturday when it hosts Bob Starcher Memorial Day in honor of the late former Malone baseball head coach.  The Pioneers will host Notre Dame (OH) College (15-13 overall, 7-7 AMC) in a twinbill beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.  A ceremonial first pitch will be thrown at 12:30 p.m. by Diane (Starcher) Merritt.  Also, the winner of the Bob Starcher Memorial Scholarship (a junior on the Malone baseball team) will be announced prior to game one. 
 
In addition, all former Malone baseball players who are in attendance prior to game one -- at approximately 12:35 p.m. -- will be invited to come down on the field to be recognized.
1.800.521.1146