Findlay Takes One from GVSU
Allendale, MI – The University of Findlay baseball team traveled north to take on Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opponent Grand Valley State University on Friday, April 17. The Oilers split the doubleheader with the Lakers and moved their record to 11-27 overall and 6-16 in league play.
Findlay fell behind in the first contest as they surrendered a run in the fourth but they scored four unanswered runs to take the first game by a 4-1 final.
Trailing 1-0 with only two innings to play, Jon Shollenberger led off the sixth with a double to right center field. Following a single from Peter Yorgen, Shollenberger crossed the dish on a Christion Smith single. Troy Merriman later singled, scoring Yorgen and Smith and putting the Oilers up 3-1.
Findlay added on with a single run in the seventh when Kevin Schrock reached on an error to lead off the inning and later scored on a Smith single.
Austin Rodesky (3-5) gave the Oilers a tremendous start on the mound as he pitched five innings and allowed just one run on five hits. He struck out four and did not record a walk.
Alex Williams came in to pitch in the sixth inning and picked up his GLIAC leading sixth save of the year. He struck out two and only allowed one base runner in his two innings of work.
Smith and Merriman led the offense as they each picked up two hits and two RBI in the game.
As a team, Findlay has four runs on eight hits. They made no errors and left seven runners on base.
The second contest feature a little more offense as GVSU used a continuous barrage of runs to beat the Oilers 12-5.
The Lakers scored single runs in the first and second innings before Findlay was able to crack the scoreboard.
The top of the fourth inning began with a walk to Chase Goulette, a single from Merriman, and single from Smith, loading the bases. Pete Burkett then singled, scoring Goulette. Josh Schwerer later reach on an error, which scored Smith. The final run of the inning came on a bases loaded walk to Logan Harrah, scoring Burkett. That put the Oilers ahead 3-2.
GVSU answered a single run in the bottom of the fourth and three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Findlay attempted a rally in the top of the sixth as Schwerer, who reached on a fielder's choice, and Harrah, who singled, both scored on a double from Yorgen. Those runs made the score 6-5 in favor of the Lakers.
A single run in the seventh and five more in the eighth proved too much for the Oilers to overcome as they fell by a 12-5 final.
Jon Walker (1-6) took the loss on the mound as he pitched 4.1 innings and allowed six runs, five earned, on nine hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Burkett led the offense as he picked up a pair of hits, scored a run, and picked up an RBI. Harrah also played well as he had a pair of hits, walked twice, scored a run, and had one RBI.
The Oilers will conclude the series tomorrow, April 18, with the first game beginning at 1:00pm.