March 4, 2008

Malone Opens 2008 Season By Splitting Pair Of Games In Florida

 
The Malone College softball team, under the direction of third-year head coach Angela Seders, began its 2008 season on Tuesday with a pair of games at the Disney Challenge in Orlando, Florida.  The Pioneers fell in their opener with Thiel (PA) College 8-2 before bouncing back later in the day to notch a 10-3 win over Susquehanna (PA) University.  Following Saturday’s contests, Malone starts the year with a 1-1 record.
 
Against Thiel, the Pioneers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning before the Tomcats answered back with three runs in the bottom of the inning.  Freshman infielder Karre Thompson (East Canton H.S.) pulled Malone to within 3-2 in the top of the fifth with an RBI groundout, but Thiel then added five runs over the next two innings to pull away for the 8-2 victory.  Junior Ashleigh Ralston (Wadsworth H.S.) started on the mound and took the loss (0-1) for the Pioneers after giving up three runs on four hits over four innings pitched.  Malone recorded nine hits in the game as sophomore outfielders Morgan Heacock (Mt. Gilead H.S.) and Laura Blackburn (Thomas Worthington H.S.) each went 2-4 at the plate with one stolen base.
 
In Tuesday’s contest with Susquehanna, the Crusaders jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the top of the first.  The Pioneer bats got going in the bottom of the third as Malone plated six runs to take a 6-3 lead.  Malone then tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to nail down the 10-3 victory.  After surrendering the three first-inning runs (only one of which was earned), freshman starting pitcher Jessica Krska (Norton H.S.) settled in, holding Susquehanna scoreless over the remainder of the contest to record her first win of the year (1-0).  Thompson went 2-4 in the game with two runs scored and senior infielder Becki Martin (Lakewood H.S.) plated two runs with a pair of RBI singles.
 
Malone, which is scheduled to play a total of seven games in Florida over spring break, will next face Cedar Crest (PA) College in a doubleheader on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.  These two contests will then be followed by a single game against Alvernia (PA) College, slated to start at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
1.800.521.1146