Oilers Sweep Double-Header vs. Lake Erie
Box Score:
GAME 1:
The University of Findlay baseball team swept day one of their three-game series vs. the Lake Erie Storm on Sunday, March 30. The Oilers, who were playing their first home games of the season, won the first game 2-0 and then won the nightcap 3-2 improving their record to 6-11 overall and 3-4 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.
Senior pitcher Drew Hargrove was the star in game one as he toed the rubber for his sixth start of the year. The lefty went the distance, allowing no runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out five.
The only runs for Findlay came in the bottom of the fifth inning as they finally got to Lake Erie starter Brad Raley. With one out, Peter Yorgen and Michael Lewis hit back-to-back singles and were moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Donaldson. Next to bat was the Oilers hottest hitter, Jordan Garcia, who collected five hits in the previous series with Tiffin. The catcher laced a single to right field that plated two runs. Those two runs were enough as the Oilers won 2-0.
In the game, Findlay left three runners on base while Lake Erie stranded five.
As a team, the Oilers had two runs on four hits and made two errors.
GAME 2:
In game two, the Oilers had just enough offense to back another stellar pitching performance, this time from Jon Walker.
Offense was the story to begin the game as Findlay struck for two runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Garcia led off the inning with a single and moved to second bunt hit from Kevin Schrock. Reid Rothenbuhler was then plunked by a pitch. Following a strikeout, Chase Goulette was also hit, driving in the first run of the inning. With the bases loaded, Derek Draper stepped to the plate and the first baseman delivered with a single to right field, driving in another run. The two runs made the score 2-0.
Walker got into a grove on the mound as he held the Storm hitless through the first four innings of play. The junior only walked one over that stretch.
Findlay got another run in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by a Donaldson triple to right field. With two outs, Louis was hit by a pitch and came around to score on the big swing from the Oilers centerfielder.
Lake Erie finally got on the board in the top of inning five as they struck for two runs on two hits. That would prove to be the final inning for Walker as he gave the ball off to closer Alex Williams.
With the score 3-2, Williams entered and set down all six batters he faced to earn the two-inning save. He struck out one and walked none.
Walker picked up his first win of the season as he pitched five innings allowing two runs, none earned, on just two hits and two walks. He struck out seven of the 20 batters he faced in the game.
Leading the offense for Findlay was the short stop Kevin Schrock. The freshman went 2-for-3 in game two. Goulette, Draper, and Donaldson each had one RBI in the game.
As a team, Findlay had three runs on five hits and one error. They stranded six runners.
The Oilers will look to sweep the three-game series with Lake Erie tomorrow afternoon, at 2pm, at Fifth Third Field at the Marathon Diamonds in Findlay.