FINDLAY, Ohio - In the first games of Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play in the 2026 season, the Malone University softball team split a doubleheader at the University of Findlay. The Pioneers (10-6, 1-1 G-MAC) defeated the Oilers (16-7, 1-1 G-MAC) 5-4 in game one but suffered a 7-3 loss in game two.
 
GAME ONE RECAP:
The top of the first was the difference-maker for Malone with four runs. Marlee Pireu and Morgan Cantrell drew walks to begin in the inning and Sidney Conti doubled to go up 1-0. A fielder's choice where Masyn Baker was credited with an RBI followed by back-to-back run-scoring singles from Amber Miller and Aricka Young extended the lead to 4-0.
 
Findlay went to the bullpen early and the Pioneer bats immediately got to the reliever thanks to a leadoff double by Pireu and RBI single from Conti. An error and a two-run homerun in the third made it 5-3 to no fault of Malone pitcher Mia Rose. The 5-3 gap remained until the bottom of the sixth when the Oilers threatened to tie the game. A sacrifice fly put the score at 5-4 and Rose was able to escape a bases loaded jam to remain in front.
 
Neither side was able to plate a run in the seventh and final inning. A two-out single by Findlay was not enough as Rose completed the game on the mound with a 5-3 record, nine hits and four runs (one earned), two walks and four strikeouts. Conti had multiple hits and multiple RBIs and Miller was 2-for-3 as well.
 
GAME TWO RECAP:
Just as the Pioneers did in game one, the Oilers jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning of game two. A two-run homerun would add another couple of runs to score and the gap was 7-0 after two. Cantrell answered with a two-run homerun of her own in the third to cut into the Findlay lead, 7-2.
 
Malone strung together three hits in the seventh and once again it was Conti who drove in a run with an RBI single, but that 7-3 score would go final. The top three of Pireu (2-for-4), Cantrell (2-for-3) and Conti (4-for-4) combined for eight of the team's nine hits. Cantrell had a team-high six total bases.
 
In the circle, Baker (3-2) allowed seven hits and six runs in her one inning plus. Reliever Summer McCaw was effective with five innings of work, four hits, one run and one strikeout. Neither pitcher surrendered a free pass.
 
UP NEXT:
A quick turnaround awaits the Pioneers as they take on Kentucky Wesleyan College at home on Saturday, March 21. First pitch at Mason Softball Complex will be at 9:00 A.M.