Oilers Sweep Malone
The University of Findlay softball team traveled to Canton, Ohio for a double header against the Pioneers of Malone University on Saturday, April 4th. The Oilers swept the Pioneers 10-6 and 4-3 to improve to 21-9 on the season and 7-1 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.
In the first game, a seven run first inning propelled the Oilers to a victory.
In the top of the first inning, the Oilers led off with four straight walks to take an early 1-0 led. With one out and bases loaded, freshman Rebecca Harvey hit a two RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0. Junior Kelsey Borders followed up with a two RBI double to put Findlay ahead 5-0. A walk and ground out put runners on second and third with two outs. Senior Brooke Scherger delivered with a two RBI single into the center field gap. Scherger would get thrown out trying to steal to end the top half of the inning with the Oilers leading 7-0.
In the bottom of the first, Malone registered three runs of their own on a two RBI triple and an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 7-3.
In the second inning, the Findlay offense picked up where they left off scoring three runs on three hits. Sophomore Cassidy Ghesquiere started the inning with a single. After a fly out, junior Lauren Trumpler walked and a wild pitch moved each runner one base. An error would allow Ghesquiere to score and after a strikeout, Borders came through with a two RBI single to put Findlay up 10-3.
The bottom of third featured the Pioneers tacking on two more runs to cut the Findlay lead to 10-5.
The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth by Malone to give the Oilers a 10-6 victory.
Freshman Hailey Bryan (8-5) picked up the win on the mound for Findlay, as she pitched five and two-thirds innings giving up seven hits, six runs (five earned), walking five, and striking out two. Sophomore Chelsea McManaway picked up her third save on the season pitching the final innings giving up no runs, no hits, no walks, and striking out three. That save tied her with Brittany Dauterman (2011) for the most saves in a season.
At the plate, the Oilers recorded six hits and Malone came away with seven. Findlay was led by Borders who finished 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs.
In the second game, a walk off two run home run sealed the win for Findlay.
The Oilers registered just six hits and Malone recorded five.
On the mound, McManaway started the game for the Oilers pitching five innings, giving up two hits, no runs, seven walks, and striking out nine. Junior Jenna Inman pitched one and a third innings giving up two hits and two runs, while striking out two. Bryan (9-5) recorded the victory on the mound, pitching two thirds of an inning giving up one run on one hit.
After a scoreless first inning, the Oilers got on the scoreboard in the second inning thanks to a RBI double from junior Jenna Huff to give Findlay a 1-0 lead after two innings.
The Oilers tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth. A Borders solo home run extended Findlay's lead to 2-0.
In the top of the seventh, Malone regained the lead on a three run home run. In the bottom of the inning, Trumpler matched that with a walk off two run home run to give the Oilers a 4-3 victory.
At the plate, Scherger finished the second game 2-for-4 and Huff finished 1-for-2 with a double and one RBI.
The Oilers return to the playing field Sunday, April 3rd for a double header at Walsh University. The first game is scheduled to begin at 12pm.