Oilers Extend Win Streak
The University of Findlay softball team traveled to Sylvania, Ohio for a double header against the Gray Wolves of Lourdes University on Tuesday, March 22nd. The Oilers were victorious in both games as the won 8-6 and 5-1 to extend their win streak to four games. The wins move Findlay to 14-8 on the season.
Findlay used a late seventh inning rally for a come from behind victory in game one. The Oilers registered four runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat the Gray Wolves.
Lourdes held the Oilers in the top of the first and scored five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take an early 5-0 lead. In the second inning, Findlay responded with four runs on four hits to cut the deficit.
Junior Katie Dunphy led off the inning with a double and sophomore Destinie Keeton was hit by a pitch to get runners on first and second. Dunphy scored on an error and Keeton made her way around the bases on a RBI groundout by sophomore Amanda Delmonte. Sophomore Meredith Shepherd followed that up with a triple to clear the bases. Freshman Rebecca Harvey added a RBI single before the inning would end with Lourdes leading 5-4.
After a couple scoreless innings, the Gray Wolves tacked on another run in the fifth inning thanks to a solo home run to lead 6-4.
In the top of the sixth, the Oilers would record two hits and get runners on second and third, but would be unable to convert.
Findlay made up for it in the seventh inning as they scored four runs to take the lead for the first time in the game. Freshman Breanna Cleland reached on an error and sophomore Hayley Apple walked to start the inning. Delmonte singled to load the bases with no outs. Shepherd came through in the clutch with a two RBI double to tie the game. The Oilers took the lead with a sacrifice fly from senior Brooke Scherger. Another sacrifice fly by Harvey would give Findlay an 8-6 lead, which would end up being the final score.
Freshman Hailey Bryan (4-4) got the victory as she pitched six innings, gave up nine hits, six runs (five earned), walked one and struck out one. Sophomore Chelsea McManaway got her first save on the season. She closed out the game by pitching the final inning and striking out the last three batters.
Rebecca Harvey led the Oilers at the plate in the first game as she finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Meredith Shepherd also found success in the batter's box as she went 2-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBIs.
The second game featured a pitcher's duel, with Findlay outlasting the Gray Wolves in extra innings.
Junior Jenna Inman started on the mound for the Oilers. She pitched three and a third innings giving up one run, four hits, no walks and striking out three. McManaway (9-1) got the win in the second game. She finished the game giving up no hits, runs or walks, while striking out twelve out of fifteen batters she faced.
In the first inning, the Oilers got on the scoreboard on a wild pitch that scored Scherger, after she led off the game with a triple. Lourdes answered in the bottom of the first with a run of their own to tie the game 1-1.
The game would remain 1-1 until the top of the eighth inning where Findlay would open up the scoring. Per NCAA rules, a runner was placed on second base for the Oilers. With two outs, back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Apple would walk to bring home the go ahead run. Delmonte provided insurance runs with a three RBI double. She would get thrown out at third to end the inning with Findlay leading 5-1, which was the final score after a final shut out inning by the defense.
Brooke Scherger paced the offense going 2-for-3 with a triple, while Amanda Delmonte finished the second game 1-for-1 with three RBIs.
The Oilers return to the field on Friday, March 25th, as they open up Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a double header against Northwood University at home with the first game scheduled to begin at 3:30pm. Come out to Anderson Field to support your Oilers during the Easter weekend.