Oilers Sting Jackets to Improve to 10-6
The University of Findlay softball team swept Cedarville University in a pair of shutouts on Tuesday, March 15th in their home openers of the 2016 season to improve to 10-6.
In the first game, the Oilers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. In the bottom of the first, freshman Erika Farst walked and sophomore Destinie Keeton reach on an error with Farst advancing to third base. A single by junior Lauren Trumpler scored Farst with Keeton reaching third. With two outs, junior Katie Dunphy brought in Trumpler with a single through the left side to put the Oilers up 2-0 at the end of the first.
Findlay added another run in the second inning thanks to a Keeton single that scored sophomore Meredith Shepherd, who led off the inning with a single of her own. The Oilers led 3-0 heading into the third.
After a scoreless inning, the last run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore Madison Arnold led off the inning with a single and then stole second. Keeton would bring her around the bases with a single to right field. The final run of the game put the Oilers out in front 4-0.
Freshman Hailey Bryan pitched a fantastic game, as she went the distance for the Oilers and gave up only two hits, with two strikeouts, and no runs allowed.
The Oilers used a big second inning along with stellar defense to shut out Cedarville in game two.
In the bottom of the first, senior Brooke Scherger led off with a single to right field. Two groundouts advanced Scherger to third. Keeton came through for Findlay with a RBI single. A fly out ended the inning with Findlay leading 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, the Oilers scored six runs with two outs. With two down, sophomore Amanda Delmonte and junior Jenna Huff singled, followed by a Scherger walk to load the bases. Farst recorded a RBI after she walked to keep the bases loaded. Trumpler brought in two runs with a single, followed by a RBI single by Keeton. Another run would come in from a throwing error and Dunphy capped off the inning with another single to score Keeton. A deep fly out to left field ended the inning with the Oilers ahead 7-0.
Findlay tacked on a run in the third inning to lead 8-0 when Scherger recorded an RBI double to bring in sophomore Cassidy Ghesquiere, who reached on an error.
The bottom of the fourth featured four Oiler runs, all coming with two outs. Senior Karla Maul started it off with a single. With two outs, Maul scored on a double by Ghesquiere. Delmonte added a single to advance the runner. After a pitching change, Huff recorded a RBI double and Scherger added a RBI single. Farst singled to bring in the last run of the game with the Oilers leading 12-0.
The Oilers compiled fourteen hits in the second game, while they limited Cedarville to just two.
Sophomore Chelsea McManaway got the victory on the mound after allowing no runs, on one hit and striking out five. Freshman Molly Crosby pitched the final inning and struck out two and gave up one hit while allowing no runs.
At the plate, Scherger finished the day going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Keeton went 4-for-6 with four RBIs.
The Oilers return to take the field on Friday, March 18th as they travel to Davenport University for a double header. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3:30pm with the second game to follow.