Oilers G-MAC Tournament Run Ends in Consolation Final | Awaits Monday's Regional Selection Show
Mason, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team battled, but finally bowed out of the 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Baseball Tournament on Friday, May 12. The Oilers opened the day with an elimination game victory against the second-seeded Trevecca Nazarene Trojans, but, as one of the three teams remaining, were defeated in the consolation bracket finals by the league's regular-season champion, the Northwood University Timberwolves. With the tournament wrapped up for the Orange and Black, the Oilers, ranked seventh in the Midwest Region, have a record of 32-22.
Facing elimination in the morning, Findlay took on Trevecca Nazarene which were the champs of the G-MAC's South Division.
An error by the Trojans in the top of the third inning allowed freshman Keelan Daniel to reach base and, after a walk to senior Aiden Lao, senior Cole Kwiatkowski singled, scoring Daniel. After a deep foul out advanced Lao and Kwiatkowski, a balk sent the second run of the inning home, putting Findlay ahead 2-0.
Trevecca Nazarene answered with two in the bottom of the third to tie the game.
Over the next three innings, the minimum number of batters were faced as each team sent just three hitters to the plate with the only runner coming when Daniel was hit by a pitch in the fifth. He was erased on a double play.
Findlay threatened in the seventh, getting a pair of runners on base with one out, but a double play ended the inning.
Sophomore Jacob Flaherty took over on the mound in the seventh and worked around a leadoff double, holding TNU scoreless.
In the top of the ninth, the Oilers finally broke the tie. Senior Nate Brooks led off with a walk, but after a sac bunt and a strike out, Findlay needed a big hit. Junior Andrew Micale delivered with a single, scoring Brooks and putting the Oilers ahead 3-2.
The Trojans would get a pair of runners on base in the ninth, getting runners on the corners with just one out. Flaherty coaxed a pop up and a fly out to end the threat and end the game.
Flaherty would pick up the win in relief, throwing three innings and giving up just two walks and two hits. Freshman Ethan Mohr was the starter and tossed six solid innings, giving up just two runs on four hits. He struck out six.
Game 2 saw adversity. The contest was scheduled to be played on Prasco Park and, for and inning and a half, that was the case. But in the bottom of the second, a downpour forced a delay and ultimately a switch of venues. Legacy Field, a part of the same complex, is an all-turf surface that played host to the remainder of the contest.
From that point on, Northwood was in control as they scored four quick runs after the restart and added another in the third, taking a 7-1 lead through three frames.
A single run in the fourth made it 7-2, but the Timberwolves answered with another run of their own in the sixth to make it 8-2.
Findlay manufactured a run in the ninth, but it was not enough as a 13-hit effort by the Timberwolves sent the team from Midland, Michigan into Saturday's championship game.
Freshman Carson Mellott took to loss on the hill, tossing 1.1 innings and allowing six runs on five hits. He walked a pair.
Micale led the offense in the nightcap, picking up two of Findlay's three hits.
Following the conclusion of the game, Bailey McCord and Aiden Lao were both named to the G-MAC All-Tournament Team for their efforts during the week.
The Oilers are now at the mercy of the Midwest Regional Ranking Committee to see if their season will continue. Currently ranked seventh, Findlay has wins in 11 of their previous 13 games, charging into regional consideration. The selection show is Sunday, May 14 at 11:00 pm.