The Malone University softball team won both games against the University of Findlay on Wednesday afternoon. The Pioneers took game one 3-2 and secured a victory in game two 3-1.
 
The wins move Malone to seventh in the conference standings, with a 16-12 overall record, 8-8 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Findlay falls to 17-17 on the season and 7-7 in conference.
 
Game One Recap:
The Pioneer bats were hot early, as Madison Corrick led off the bottom of the first with a double and Bailey Byers followed it up with a single. Corrick would score from third on a groundball up the middle by Serena Tucciarelli to give Malone a 1-0 lead.
 
In the circle, Kelsey Byers was unblemished through three and one-third innings. In the top of the fourth, the Oilers would get their first baserunner and hit of the game on a single. With two outs in the inning, the runner would attempt to steal, but left the bag early, and Byers was still facing the minimum through five.
 
Nicole Ferrara hit a triple to start the bottom of the fifth for the Pioneers and scored on an RBI single by Erika Johnson.
 
Findlay cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth. A single followed by an RBI double to the left center field fence brought home a run and made the score 2-1 Malone. The Oilers had the tying run on third, but a pop fly foul out to catcher Bailey Byers left the runner stranded.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, April Howser led off with a single. A sacrifice bunt and an error would push her to third and a sacrifice fly by Kelsey Byers would give herself some insurance in the circle and make it 3-1.
 
With their backs against the wall, Findlay did not go quietly. The Oilers brought across a run on a sacrifice fly and had the tying run at first base, but could not keep the rally going and the Pioneers got the win 3-2.
 
Kelsey Byers picked up the win, her 13th of the season, pitching seven innings and giving up five hits and two runs. Madison Corrick was 3-for-3 in the game with a pair of doubles.
 
Game Two Recap:
Each team got a runner on in the first inning, but both teams struggled to get runs across in the back half of the doubleheader. Madison Corrick threw an Oiler out from the left center field fence trying to extend a single into a double in the top of the second.
 
In the bottom of the third, Erika Johnson gashed a single to right field and Madison Corrick clobbered her third double of the game. After an intentional walk to Bailey Byers, April Howser hit a bases loaded groundball towards the third baseman that was enough to bring Johnson across and take a 1-0 lead.
 
Pitcher Kelsey Byers remained on the mound for game two and put on a clinic. She induced a groundball double play to Emily Betts and Serena Tucciarelli in the fourth to keep the goose egg in the runs column for Findlay.
 
The Oilers would score a run and tie the game in the top of the fifth after a walk and a pair of wild pitches put a runner on third and she scored on a fielding error.
 
Two-out hitting has been Malone's bread and butter all season, and it was on display in the bottom of the fifth. Madison Corrick beat out a groundball to the shortstop for a hit and Bailey Byers drove her home with a double to right center. April Howser drove her in with a double of her own to left center field that made the score 3-1 Pioneers.
 
Kelsey Byers finished the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to seal the deal. In the game, she pitched seven innings and scattered three hits and one run. The win brings her record to 14-5 this season, drawing her closer to the Pioneer record for wins in a season (16).
 
Totals:
- Kelsey Byers pitched 14 innings on the day, allowed only eight hits, three earned runs and struck out seven.
- Madison Corrick went 5-for-6 on the day with three doubles and two runs scored.
- April Howser collected two RBIs and a run scored at the dish.
- Bailey Byers batted 2-for-5 with an RBI, run scored and an intentional walk.
- Erika Johnson finished the day 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers are at home this weekend against G-MAC opponents Alderson Broaddus and Davis & Elkins. Friday's games against Alderson Broaddus are scheduled to begin at 3 pm and Saturday's games against Davis & Elkins will start at 1 pm.