Oilers Rally to Earn Sweep of Wayne State

Findlay, OH – For the first time since April 14 of 2006, University of Findlay baseball team earned a double-header sweep over Wayne State on Sunday, April 2 at The Cube. For Wayne State, it was the first two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) losses of the season as they fall to 14-9 overall and 4-2 in the league while the Oilers improve to 16-7 and 7-5 in the conference.

Game 1 | W (5-1) (Box Score)

After winning both games yesterday in low scoring affairs, the Warriors were the first to score as the series moved to Findlay. The Warriors opened the game with a single run in the top of the first inning.

In the second inning, junior Pete Burkett led off with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. After a fly out, junior Troy Merriman hit a double off the base of the wall in left field to score Burkett and tie the game at one.

The next inning, the bottom of the third, began with two quick outs before back-to-back walks to senior Peter Yorgen and Pete Burkett. Freshman Casey Gould then laced a two-RBI single to left and came around to score on a double to right-center off the bat of senior Miguel Valdez, giving Findlay a 4-1 lead.

Findlay's final run of the game came in the fourth. Again with two outs, the Oilers were granted a walk, this one to sophomore Derrick Herd. Herd stole second base and scored on a double to left by Peter Yorgen that put the Orange and Black up 5-1, the final score.

Despite throwing 36 pitches in the first inning, sophomore Mark Delas settled down and pitched the complete game to pick up his second win of the year. He tossed seven innings and allowed just one run on two hits. He struck out eight and walked four.

Miguel Valdez led the offense with a pair of hits and an RBI in three at-bats. Casey Gould finished the game one-for-one with two RBIs while Pete Burkett had two runs scored.

Game 2 | W (5-3) (Box Score)

Wayne State put the pressure on in the second contest as they were able to plate single runs in the second and third innings to take a quick 2-0 lead in the nine inning contest.

Findlay, which left five runners on base over the first three innings, was able to break the ice with a single run in the bottom of the fourth inning when junior Josh Schwerer, who was hit by a pitch, scored on a single to center off the bat of senior Logan Harrah. The Oilers would leave the bases loaded that inning but cut the Warriors' lead to 2-1.

The bottom of the fifth may have been one of the most important of the season thus far for the home team as they were able to plate three runs and capture a lead that ultimately led to the victory. With one out, Austin Rawlins and Pete Burkett walked and advanced on a single from Casey Gould. Troy Merriman then drilled a single to left to score two and give Findlay its first lead of the game. After a strikeout, Logan Harrah then singled to extend the lead to 4-2 and give the Orange and Black the momentum.

Both teams traded single runs in the eighth inning and senior AJ Cecil, who came on in the eighth, closed out the game to secure the series split against the GLIAC's current leader.

Sophomore Tyler Kennedy improved to 2-0 on the year as he pitched 6.2 innings and allowed two runs, none earned, on five hits. He walked three and struck out five. AJ Cecil came on with two on and no out in the eighth and earned his fourth save of the season. He did not allow a hit and struck out three.

Troy Merriman, who finished the day with four hits, was the key in the second game, picking up three hits and two RBI in four at-bats. Logan Harrah had two hits and two RBI in the game while Pete Burkett had two runs scored.

Findlay will be on the road for their next game, a non-conference matchup at Urbana on Wednesday, April 5.