Urbana Goes 1-1 vs. NAIA No. 30 Malone
Blue Knights lose heartbreaker; then bounce back with big win
NORTH CANTON, Ohio (March 28, 2008) – The Blue Knights split an American Mideast Conference doubleheader against NAIA No. 30 Malone College Friday. The Pioneers held on for a 4-3 win in 10 innings in the first game, but Urbana (9-9, 2-2 AMC) avenged the loss by taking a 5-3 victory in game two.

Malone (12-5, 1-1 AMC) owned a 2-0 lead after the first three innings, but the Blue Knights came barreling back to tie it at the top of the seventh. Urbana cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth after a sacrifice hit by senior Mike Heck to score Jeff Hartwig. Sophomore Matt Murphy tied up the game in the seventh on a one-out double to score senior Tommy Bowlen.  Urbana took its first lead of the ball game in the 10th inning on an RBI two-out single to score Hartwig. The Pioneers were the beneficiaries of two walks – one to load the bases and one to plate the game-tying run in the bottom of the 10th. With two outs, bases loaded, and the score tied, Malone produced the game-winning run with a single. Urbana had several opportunities, but had 10 runners left on base. Junior pitcher Jaeson Hudnall, turned in another solid performance, striking out seven in eight innings of work for the Blue Knights for a no-decision.

Junior Shane Pfouts (left) picked up his first win of the season as Urbana took the nightcap, 5-3. Junior Mike Blanton earned the save for the Blue Knights, striking out three and giving up just one hit in two innings of work. The Pioneers struck first with a run in the second. The Blue Knights picked up the difference in the next inning as John Lindquist got an RBI single to drive in Matt Netherly.

The Blue Knights had their most productive inning of the day, knocking in three runs in the fourth. Steve Froese started the inning with a two-out single. Zach Roll followed with another single, and Murphy was walked to load up the bases. Netherly singled for 2 RBI and Hartwig followed with another single to give Urbana a 4-1 lead. The Pioneers cut into the lead with runs in the fourth and fifth, but the Blue Knights’ three-run fourth inning proved to be the difference. Urbana put up an insurance run on a Hartwig RBI double.

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