Oilers Split Doubleheader To Open Florida Trip
The University of Findlay softball team made their way down to Clermont, Florida for their spring trip. On Monday, Feb. 29th, the Oilers had a doubleheader dropping the first game 6-2 against Wheeling Jesuit University and defeating Gannon University 3-0. The split sends Findlay to 3-3 on the season.
In the first game of the day, sophomore Chelsea McManaway took the loss on the mound. The full statistics from the game will be available soon.
The second game featured a combination of excellent defense and pitching as Gannon was shut out and came away with only four hits in the ball game.
After a scoreless first inning, the Oilers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Hayley Apple led off the inning with a single. With two outs, junior Katie Dunphy came through with a double to center field to score Apple and take a 1-0 lead. Dunphy would advance to third on a wild pitch, but a groundout would end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Findlay would add a couple of insurance runs. Freshman Erika Farst singled to start off the inning and moved to second on a SAC bunt by freshman Rebecca Harvey.
Again with two outs the Oilers bats connected. Junior Lauren Trumpler doubled to center field to score Farst and sophomore Destinie Keeton followed that up with a double of her own to bring in another run to stretch the lead to 3-0, but a strike out ended the inning.
The defense went 1-2-3 in the seventh inning to preserve the win. Farst ended the game 2-for-3 and sophomore Meredith Sheperd went 1-for-2. As a team, the Oilers registered 7 hits.
Freshman Hailey Bryan got the win on the mound as she pitched four innings, giving up three hits with no walks or runs.
Sophomore Morgan James picked up the save after coming in relief to pitch three innings and record three strikeouts and didn't surrender a hit.
The Oilers return to the field on Tuesday, March 1st, as they continue their spring trip in Clermont, Florida against Seton Hill University at 1pm and Quincy University at 3pm.