CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University softball team won their home opener games against Kentucky Wesleyan College, 8-0 and 13-0. The Pioneers now hold a 12-6 record overall and 3-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The Panthers fall to 3-16 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
 
GAME ONE
In the bottom of the third, Sidney Conti hit a single to advance Morgan Cantrell to second. Jessie Crookston then singled herself to bring Cantrell home for the game's first run. The Pioneers were able to extend their lead to 4-0 in inning four. Amber Miller started the frame with a base hit and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single from Marlee Pireu brought Aricka Young home. Pireu stole second and a triple from Cantrell would bring her home. Conti had a base hit to plate the fourth runner for Malone.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Panthers attempted to get on base but left the inning with one hit. To finish the game in the fifth inning, the Pioneers scored three more runs. Masyn Baker, Miller, Young, and Halyn Cawthorne each contributed singles on the inning. Pireu secured the 8-0 win after her double brought in the final two runners for Malone at 8-0.
 
Miller went 3-for-3 at the plate and Conti went 2-for-2. Pireu was 2-for-3 with three RBIs on the game. Mia Rose (6-3) got the win after pitching five innings with six strikeouts. The Pioneers finished with a total of 13 hits compared to Kentucky Wesleyan's one.
 
GAME TWO
Malone again held the Panthers to just one hit in five innings again in game two. In the bottom of the first, the Pioneers scored seven total runs. Pireu started the bottom of the inning with a single to center field. Rose reached first on a fielder's choice which brought Pireu home. Crookston hit a double to bring in Malone's second run and a triple from Miller scored runs three and four. Remaining hits on the inning came from Young, Summer McCaw, Madi Pukansky, and Cantrell.
 
The second inning started with a double play for the Pioneers to keep Kentucky Wesleyan free of runs. In the bottom of the second, McCaw had a base hit which brought Miller and Crookston home for a 9-0 score. In the top of the third, McCaw had two back-to-back strikeouts to start the inning. Zoe Lesch was out on the play, but was able to bring Alyssa Hochstetler home for run ten. A home run from Trinity Davis brought in three RBIs and secured the 13-0 win for Malone.
 
Crookston and McCaw both went 2-for-2 at the place and McCaw earned three RBIs. McCaw (3-1) got the win after five innings with four total strikeouts. The Pioneers finished the game with 12 hits compared to the Panthers' one.
 
UP NEXT
Malone will host a doubleheader against D'Youville University on Monday, March 23. First pitch times will be at 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.