Delas Complete Game Ends Five-Game Skid
Tiffin, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team played their fifth and sixth games in a three-day stretch on Wednesday, April 24 in Tiffin, Ohio as they took on Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) foe, Tiffin University. Findlay picked up the win in the opener to snap a five game skid but dropped the nightcap, succumbing to the series split. After today's games, the Oilers are 12-25 on the season and hold a 6-18 record in league play. The Dragons are now 16-25 and are 13-11 in the G-MAC.
Game 1 Box Score (W 4-2)
After dropping their last five games, the Oilers elected to start senior Mark Delas on the hill. Delas, whose first start four years ago resulted in a no-hitter, had not started a game for Findlay since March 23 and has been battling a shoulder injury. The Perrysburg, Ohio native has combined for just seven starts and 12 appearances in the last two seasons after starting and appearing in 17 and 21 games, respectively, in his first two seasons. Despite those adversities, Delas proved to be the headline.
Tiffin managed a pair of runs in the first inning of play to take an early 2-0 lead. But that is all that Delas and the Oilers defense allowed.
Findlay's offense finally broke through in the fifth inning. Junior Austin Rawlings hit an infield single with one out and was followed by a single off the bat of junior Jordan Williams. Junior Casey Gould hit an infield single to load the bases and, with two outs, senior Derrick Herd roped a single through the box into centerfield to plate two runs and tie the game.
In the sixth, Findlay again loaded the bases after a single by senior Nic Varda, a walk to senior Trevor Anderons, and a bunt single by junior Sam Shelt Palm. Sophomore Ryan O'Malley singled to give the Oilers a 3-2 lead. The inning ended when Anderson attempted to score on a sac fly but could not evade a tag by the Dragons' catcher who was camped in front of home plate after a strong throw from right field.
The Oilers added another run in the top of the seventh on a single by Anderson, giving the Orange and Black a 4-2 lead.
Delas came back out of the dugout for the final inning and, despite loading the bases, struck out the final batter of the inning, ending the game.
For Delas, it was his fifth career complete game on the hill and first since he lost a 1-0 decision against Walsh on April 14 of 2017. In Wednesday's game, Findlay's pitcher threw seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He worked around seven walks and struck out ten, the fifth time in his career that he has reached double-digit strikeouts.
Offensively, O'Malley had a pair of hits including a double while Derrick Herd had a hit and two RBI. With Herd's third at-bat of the game he became Findlay's all-time leader in at-bats, passing the mark of 621 set by Rob Talpas from 2001-05. After his hit in the nightcap, Herd also moved into sixth all-time at Findlay in career hits. The Pickerington, Ohio native currently has 174 hits in his time at Findlay and needs just one to tie Richie Van Hoose (2003-06) for fifth all-time.
Game 2 Box Score (L 7-5)
Tiffin again took the lead in the first inning as they plated a single run in the first inning. They added another run in the third to take a 2-0 lead.
Findlay plated three in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI double by Rawlins, an RBI single by Williams, and a sac fly by freshman AJ Clarey.
However, Tiffin would score five unanswered runs in the bottom of the fifth, the final two of which came via the longball.
In the second game, sophomore Tyler Burley, Anderson, and Williams each had two hits.
Freshman Anthony Kyle took the loss on the hill as he threw four innings and gave up five runs, three earned, on six hits. He walked one and struck out two.
The Oilers' break is a short one as they head south to take on Davis & Elkins in a four-game series beginning on Saturday, April 27.
