GREENSBORO, N.C. — Marietta College opened the 2026 season with an 11-1 loss to No. 13 ranked SUNY Cortland Thursday afternoon at the D3 Showcase.

The Pioneers fall to 0-1 on the season, while the Red Dragons are 1-0.

Cortland scored five runs in the first two innings and then sealed the victor with six runs in the final two frames. Marietta’s lone run of the game came on a solo home run from Zack Molloy, the first of his career, in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Nolan Smith staked the Dragons to an early lead with a single to center in the top of the first. Marietta misplayed the ball allowing two Cortland runners to come around and score for a 2-0 lead.

Smith added a two-run single down the left field line in the second. Talon Elkins also plated a run in the second with an RBI single to right as Cortland increased the lead to 5-0 and chased Pioneer starter Austin Ziance from the game.

Josh Pedersen took over on the mound for Marietta and kept the Dragons off the scoreboard until the sixth. JJ DeLawder smacked a solo home run, and Smith drove in another run with a sac fly.

Cortland added four more runs in the seventh on a grand slam over the right field wall from Elkins.

Ziance (0-1) started and took the loss. He allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits in 1.1 innings of work. Pedersen threw 4.0 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits. Zach Madan, Cameron Birch and Matthew Farmer all threw in relief for the Pioneers.

Dan Collins started for Cortland and got no decision working 3.1 innings and giving up one run on just one hit. He struck out three. Ryan McLaughlin (1-0) tossed 3.2 shutout innings for the win. He allowed one hit, walked two, and struck out five.

Molloy and Thomson Babineau had Marietta’s hits in the game.

Tristan Gatchalian had three hits for Cortland. Elkins had a pair of hits and drove in five runs, while Smith finished with two hits and three runs batted in.

Marietta is back in action on Friday against Christopher Newport. First pitch is set for 1:15 p.m.