Oilers Split on Day Two with Grand Valley
Chillicothe, OH- The University of Findlay baseball team was back in action on Monday Feb 21st down in Chillicothe for games three and four of their opening weekend series with Grand Valley. The Oilers looked to bounce back after losing two one runs game the day before. Findlay split on the day to bring their record to 1-3 on the season. Findlay won the first game in convincing fashion with outstanding offensive performances as well as a solid outing on the mound winning 11-2. A strong offensive performance from Grand Valley stopped the Oilers from picking up two wins as Findlay lost xxxxxxxxx
Game One- (W 11-2)
Findlay started the scoring off in the second inning when Senior Ryan O'Malley sent a ball over the left field wall for a solo homerun. Later in the inning sophomore Andrew Micale drove in freshman Jabin Bates (single) with a double in the gap. This gave the Oilers a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd inning.
In the top of the 3rd Grand Valley scored off a pair of doubles to bring the game back to within one run.
In the bottom of the 4th the Oilers went on a scoring frenzy starting off with Bates driving in senior Nolan O'Connell followed by an Andrew Micale two run homerun to left. Two batters later Junior Aiden Lao would score senior Brandon Emery (triple) on a back knock up the middle. Findlay would go into the 5th inning with a commanding 6-1 lead.
Findlay tacked on another five runs in the bottom of the 5th when O'Connell drove in Junior Nate Brooks (double) on a fielder's choice. O'Connell would later score on a double to left center from Bates. A few batters later Micale would go deep for the second time in the game sending a ball over the left field fence for a three-run homerun scoring both Bates and senior Christian Orr (walk). The hit parade from the Oilers allowed them to grow the lead to 11-1.
Grand Valley would answer with one run in the top of the 6th inning off a solo homerun to left field. However, the Oilers offense proved to be too much as the score would end up 11-2 in this 7-inning game.
Findlay finished with a solid 12 hits lead by Andrew Micale who went 3-3 setting two career highs with two homeruns and 6 RBIs.
On the mound for Findlay Senior Jordan Bekier threw an excellent game going 6.2 innings allowing only 2 earned runs and sitting down an impressive 9 betters with strikeouts. Sophomore Ethan Canterbury threw .1 innings getting the last out of the game on one pitch.
Game Two (L 22-3)
Grand Valley started game two of the day off in the top of the first when a leadoff hit by pitch and a walk came around to score on an error later in the inning making it 2-0 in favor of Grand Valley.
In the second inning Grand Valley scored 7 runs, a leadoff single came around to score later in the inning as well as a walked batter. A two out two run homerun to left center gave Grand Valley a 7-0 lead. Later in the inning a single up the middle allowed two more runs to score making the score 9-0 heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Findlay brought the score back to 9-1 in the bottom of the inning when O'Malley plated O'Connell (triple) on a single to right field.
Grand Valley was clicking on all cylinders in the 3rd innings as the plated 10 runs on 6 hits and 2 errors leaving 2 runners on base. This put the game at 19-1 in favor of Grand Valley.
In the bottom of the 5th inning Findlay scratched out a few more runs as freshmen Austin Adelman singled to right field scoring senior Alex Foulks (walk). Later in the inning sophomore Derek Fay singled to right field scoring Orr (single) making the score 19-3.
A two run homerun followed up by a solo homerun in the top of the 7th inning for Grand Valley pushed the score to 22-3 where it stayed for the rest of the game.
Starting on the mound for the Oilers junior Grant Myers went 1.2 innings allowing 5 earned runs and recording one strikeout. In relief Ethan Canterbury threw .1 innings allowing one earned run and recording 1 strikeout. Freshmen Ashton Schroeder threw .2 innings for the Oilers allowing 2 earned runs and recording 2 strikeouts. Freshmen Xavier Thornton threw .1 innings allowing no earned runs and striking out one batter. Next on the Mound for the Oilers was junior Tyler Trammel who finished his inning of work in a mere 5 pitches with 2 ground outs and a fly out giving up no runs. Junior Sabastian Jones finished with 1 inning of work allowing no earned runs and recording 2 strike outs. Ben Calisto threw 1 inning allowing no earned runs in 14 pitches. Sophomore Logan Bragg was next on the hill for the Oilers. Bragg tossed one inning and allowed 3 earned runs. Junior Spencer Giesige threw the next inning allowing no earned runs and recording one strike out. Senior Evan Brock tossed the 9th inning for Findlay and recorded his three outs in 9 pitches allowing no earned runs.
The Oilers will be back in action on Sunday Feb. 27 down in Auburndale Florida as they start their spring break trip against Gannon.