Oilers Upset Panthers in 1st Round of GLIAC Tourney
The University of Findlay softball team knocked off top-seeded Ohio Dominican University by a score of 16-11 in the first round of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament on May 2 at Anderson Field.
The Oilers jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the second inning of the game, but by the fourth inning the Panthers had a 9-7 advantage on the scoreboard.
Down 9-7, Megan Turner smacked a two-run homer to right field to tie the game in the fifth. Jackie Messersmith then hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to give Findlay a 10-9 lead. The lead was short-lived however as the Panthers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-10 lead into the final frame.
In the seventh, Abby Funk led off with a pinch hit double to right center. A single by Lauren Trumpler then moved Kari Sparling, who ran for Funk, to third. Morgan Arnold then drew a walk to load the bases and Courtney Dwyer brought them all home with a triple to right.
Leading 12-11 after the triple by Dwyer, the Oilers would then tack on three more runs to put the game out of reach. Tori Allen drove home Dwyer with a sacrifice fly and Emily Stewart clubbed a two-run homer to left to give Findlay a 16-11 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Nicole Motuza came on to pitch and got out without allowing a run.
Messersmith and Stewart each had three hits in the game while Dwyer, Allen, Reynolds, Turner and Trumpler each had two.
Tawna Whited started the game for the Oilers and allowed eight runs in 3.2 innings of work.
Jenna Inman picked up the victory in relief by securing two outs in the sixth inning.
The Oilers, who set a season-high with 16 runs against the Panthers, will now play Grand Valley State University, the four-seed, in the second round of the tournament today at 4 p.m.