The Malone College softball team dropped both games of its American Mideast Conference North Division doubleheader with Notre Dame (OH) College on Friday afternoon at home, falling 9-2 in game one and 6-1 in the nightcap.  The two squads were scheduled to play two more games on Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame, but the 1:00 p.m. twinbill was postponed due to poor weather conditions.  Following Friday’s action, the Pioneers’ record now stands at 8-14 overall with a 2-8 mark in the division.

 

In game one on Friday, the Falcons (11-7 overall, 6-2 AMC North) broke open a close game by plating six runs over the final three innings.  Freshman pitcher Jessica Krska (Norton H.S.) started the contest and suffered the loss (3-4) after surrendering three runs on five hits in one inning of work.  Malone tallied four hits in the game as freshman catcher Laura Ronk (St. Vincent-St. Mary H.S.) went 1-1 with a double, two walks, and one run scored.

 

Friday’s second game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when the Falcons got on the scoreboard with an RBI double.  The visitors then tacked on three runs in the top of the fifth and two more runs in the top of the seventh to take a commanding 6-0 lead.  Freshman designated player Karre Thompson (East Canton H.S.) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single.  Sophomore outfielder Morgan Heacock (Mt. Gilead H.S.) then entered the game as a pinch runner for Thompson and quickly came around to score after a double by senior shortstop Holly Christopher (Garfield H.S.) and a Notre Dame fielding error.  Malone’s offense was unable to muster any additional runs in the inning, however, as the Falcons retired the next three Pioneer batters to secure the 6-2 victory and extend their winning streak to eight games.  Junior pitcher Ashleigh Ralston (Wadsworth H.S.) went the distance for the Pioneers, taking the loss (4-5) after giving up six runs on nine hits over her seven innings of work.