Davenport Drops Findlay
The University of Findlay softball team traveled to Grand Rapids, Mich. on Friday, March 18th for a double header against Davenport University. The Oilers were unable to pick up a win as they lost 3-1 in the first game and fell 4-3 in eight innings in the second game to move to 10-8 on the season.
In the first game, a pair of errors doomed the Oilers. In the bottom of the first, the Panthers of Davenport University scored the first run of the game after they reached on an error with two outs. The run would come in before the third out was recorded in a pickle play.
The game would remain 1-0 in favor of Davenport, until the host tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-0 lead.
The Oilers rally came up short in the seventh, as they only came up with one run. Sophomore Destinie Keeton led off the inning with a single and junior Katie Dunphy doubled to advance Keeton to third. After a caught foul ball, Keeton was caught stealing home to record the second out. Sophomore Kelley Cejer doubled to left field to bring in the only Oiler run. The comeback fell short, after a strikeout ended the game 3-1.
Freshman Hailey Bryan (2-4) picked up the loss on the mound for the Oilers. She pitched six innings while giving up one earned run, walking two and striking out two.
The Oilers registered five hits and committed two errors, while the Panthers came up with six hits and no errors.
The second game went into extra innings, where Davenport came away with a walk off victory.
The first three innings were scoreless, and the first run of the game came from Findlay in the top of the fourth inning. Cejer and junior Lauren Trumpler started off the inning with back to back singles. The runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Keeton followed up with a single to score Cejer, but the Oilers wouldn't be able to capitalize with runners in scoring position as the inning ended with Findlay leading 1-0.
The Oilers added another run in the sixth thanks to two errors by the Panthers. Findlay returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning after Davenport scored two unearned runs to tie the game 2-2 heading into the seventh.
The Oilers took a brief lead in the top of the seventh from a RBI triple from sophomore Cassidy Ghesquiere to score freshman Rebecca Harvey, who reached on a double. The Panthers answered in the bottom half of the inning to force extras with the score tied 3-3.
In the top of the eighth, Findlay was unable to get the offense going and Davenport scored in the bottom half of the eighth to end the game 4-3.
Sophomore Chelsea McManaway (7-2) recorded the loss on the mound for the Oilers. She pitched six innings giving up no earned runs, no walks and struck out eight.
The second game was evenly matched as both Findlay and Davenport recorded seven hits and three errors.
Cejer ended the day at the plate going 4-for-6 with one RBI and and Trumpler finished 3-for-7 with a double.
The Oilers return to action on Saturday, March 19th as they travel to Madonna University for a double header scheduled to begin at 1pm with the second game to begin shortly after.