Oilers Stave Off Elimination | Headed to G-MAC Final Four
Mason, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team stayed alive in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Baseball Tournament on Thursday, May 11 at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio. The Oilers, playing in the consolation bracket, defeated Kentucky Wesleyan in their morning contest by a score of 5-0 and came back with a 5-3 victory over Walsh later in the day. Those two elimination game victories give Findlay, ranked seventh in the Midwest Region, a record of 31-21, the first 30+ win season in program history.
In the opener against the eighth-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers, the story started and ended with the work of senior pitcher Bailey McCord. The Heath, Ohio dominated, not allowing a Panthers player to get past second base all game.
Findlay took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when freshman Keelan Daniel hit a sacrifice fly, scoring senior Trey Bame who singled with one out earlier in the inning. A throwing error by KWC allowed another run, giving the Oilers a 2-0 lead.
A single in the fifth by freshman Casey Maruniak sent another run home and two more in the eighth made it 5-0.
McCord went the distance, throwing all nine innings and allowing just five hits. He worked around five walks and struck out four. Perhaps more importantly, McCord's effort allowed Coach Matt Palm to save some pitching for later in the tournament. Findlay's senior starter threw 123 pitches in the game, 72 of which went for strikes.
In the second contest, still facing elimination, the Oilers took on sixth-seeded Walsh. The Oilers took control of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Casey Maruniak led off with a single and came around to score on a double to left center by Bame. An error allowed Bame to score and the next batter, junior Andrew Micale, ripped a single to center, scoring another. Senior Cole Kwiatkowski singled with two outs, sending two more runs across the plate. After the dust had settled, the Oilers held a 5-0 lead.
The Cavaliers made it interesting, scoring two in the third and one more in the sixth. In the ninth, Walsh got two runners on with no outs and executed a sac bunt, putting both runners in scoring position. A line drive to short and strikeout ended the game, sending the Oilers to the final four of the event.
Kwiatkowski had three hits in the second game while Bame had two.
On the day, Lao had four hits, making him the single-season record holder with 70 on the year. He passes Rob Talpas who had 68 hits in 2004.
Freshman Blaine Wynk turned in a solid performance of his own, throwing five innings and allowing two runs on five hits. He walked five and struck out three.
Junior Logan Bragg was brilliant in relief as he tossed four innings, allowing just a single run and striking out three.
Findlay will be back in action tomorrow, May 12, when they will take on the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans at 2:15 pm.