Findlay Wins Last Game of North Carolina Trip
Cary, NC – The University of Findlay baseball team wrapped up their trip in North Carolina with another double-header split on Monday, March 15. The Oilers dropped the morning game to a very talented Franklin Pierce squad and won the nightcap over Pace University. The split moves Findlay's record to 4-10 as they return home to begin their season north of the Mason Dixon line.
Offense was lacking in the first game of the two-game set as Findlay dropped the contest to the #22 ranked team in the nation, Franklin Pierce by a 2-0 final.
Tasked with subduing a talented Ravens lineup that had seven hitters with an average of at least .300 was sophomore Austin Rodesky. Rodesky turned in a quality start for the Oilers as he pitched six innings and allowed just two runs on seven hits. He struck out five and took the tough luck loss.
Findlay only had one runner reach third base and that came in the sixth inning with two outs. A ground out ultimately ended the inning.
In the game, the Oilers scored no runs on six hits and made one error.
Game 2 Video Replay Postgame Interview
The second game of the day was a different story as the Oilers offense came out hot, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning and a single run in inning number two. That was enough as Findlay defeated Pace University by a final of 3-0.
The first inning began with a hit by pitch to Josh Schwerer who was followed by a single from Cameron Johnson. With runners at the corners, Chase Goulette grounded a ball to second, scoring Schwerer for the Oilers first lead of the day. The inning was not over as Jordan Garcia was also hit by a pitch and was followed by a single from Peter Yorgen. That hit scored Goulette and put Findlay ahead 2-0.
In the bottom of the second inning, Pete Burkett tripled to lead off the inning and later scored on a single from Johnson, his second of three singles in Game 2.
That was all the offense Findlay would need as senior Collin Parrill was busy throwing a gem of a ball game.
Despite giving up hits to the first two hitters of the game, Parrill did not allow a hitter to reach third base and ultimately gave way to closer Alex Williams with two outs in the top of the seventh, which was the Setters best chance to score.
Back-to-back singles began the seventh but Parrill did as he had done all game and struck out consecutive hitters to put two outs on the board. That is when Williams entered the game and, with two runners on and two out, struck out the final hitter of the inning.
Williams breezed through the eighth and took care of a leadoff single in the ninth with a double play.
Parrill earned his first win of the season as he pitched 6.2 innings and scattered seven hits. He did not allow a run to score and commanded the strike zone, walking none and striking out seven.
Williams, who entered in the seventh, pitched 2.1 innings and picked up his second save of the season. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Johnson led the Oilers at the dish as he collected three hits, including an RBI single in the second, his first collegiate RBI.
Burkett also saw the ball well as he collected a pair of hits, one of which was a second inning, lead-off triple.
The Oilers are scheduled to play again Wednesday, March 18 for their home opener vs. Urbana University. That contest will begin at 3:00pm at the Cube in Findlay, OH.