Oilers Drop Final Game of Series vs. Lake Erie in Extra Innings
The University of Findlay baseball team dropped Game 3 of their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) series with the Lake Erie Storm by a final of 4-3. The 10-inning loss on Monday, March 31st dropped the Oilers record to 6-12 and 3-5 in conference play, however, after they did earn their first series victory of the season after taking the first two games of the three-game set.
The Storm used some late inning offense to rally behind a quality start from pitcher Ross Hogue and D.J. Stastny came out of the bullpen to earn the win on the mound for Lake Erie.
Findlay jumped out to an early lead as they scored two runs in the bottom of the first frame. Jordan Garcia smoked a double to left center to begin the inning and was followed by a Kevin Schrock walk. The pair each advanced a base on a ground out by Reid Rothenbuhler. With runners on second and third, Joe Sickler grounded out to short, scoring the first run of the inning. Schrock later scored on an error by the short stop giving the home team a 2-0 lead early in the game.
Lake Erie got within a run as they broke through in the top of inning number four with a run off Findlay starter, Derek Draper. Draper, who was hitting for himself in the game, moved to first base after recording two outs in the fifth, giving way to AJ Cecil. Cecil got the last out of the inning and only used four pitches to get through the sixth but was on the wrong side of misfortune in the seventh.
The freshman pitcher forced the first two outs of the seventh inning and was on his way to another solid inning until, after a close strike-three call didn't go his way, he gave up a full-count single to Lucas Raley. Cecil then walked the next hitter, putting runners on first and second with two outs. Disaster then struck for the Oilers.
The next hitter, Zach DeCamp, drove a single to right field, scoring the first run. Findlay right fielder, Michael Louis, threw the ball home and it squirted past Garcia, and since there was no back up on the play, the second runner was able to slide home and score, pushing the Storm ahead 3-2.
Findlay was able to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning as Garcia led off with a hit-by-pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice from Schrock. Garcia moved to third on a single from Rothenbuhler and scored on a fielder's choice from Sickler, tying the game 3-3.
The ninth inning did not produce any runs and the game headed to and extra frame.
Collin Parrill came into the game to pitch for the Oilers and on the fourth pitch, gave up a homerun to DeCamp, who collected three hits in the game.
With a 4-3 lead, Lake Erie closer Brandon Grunda recorded the three outs he needed, ending the game and earning the save.
Oilers starter, Draper, went 4.2 innings and allowed one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Parrill took the loss on the mound for Findlay.
Leading the offense for the Oilers was Garcia who went 1-for-2 and scored two runs. Sickler picked up two-RBI for Findlay.
The Oilers have to have a short memory as they are back on the field tomorrow afternoon at 2pm as they take on GLIAC foe Saginaw Valley State University in series opening double-header.