Findlay Splits at Walsh
The University of Findlay softball team traveled to Canton, Ohio on Sunday, April 3rd to take on the Cavaliers of Walsh University for a double header. After taking the first game 6-3 in twelve innings, Findlay fell 12-0 in five innings in the second game to move to 22-10 on the season and 8-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The first game of the day went into extra innings, where the Oilers scored four runs in the top of the twelfth to come away victorious.
Freshman Hailey Bryan started on the mound for Findlay and pitched five and a third innings. She gave up one run (unearned), on six hits, with no walks, while striking out three. Sophomore Chelsea McManaway (12-2) picked up the win for the Oilers after finishing the final six and two third innings. She gave up two runs (both unearned), on two hits, with one walk, while striking out nine.
Findlay was able to get on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning from a RBI double by junior Lauren Trumpler to take an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Findlay was able to get runners on second and third with singles by freshman Rebecca Harvey and senior Brooke Scherger, but they were left stranded when a strikeout ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Walsh tied up the game at 1-1 with a RBI groundout.
The Oilers were unable to convert in the top of the seventh, as they left runners on second and third again. Freshman Carleigh Cousino and Harvey each singled in the inning.
In the tenth inning, both teams registered a run to extend the game. In the top, Trumpler provided an RBI single. The bottom of the inning featured a sacrifice bunt to score a run for the Cavaliers to tie the game 2-2.
With two outs and a runner on second in the top of the twelfth, junior Katie Dunphy put the Oilers up with an RBI double. After a Trumpler walk, sophomore Meredith Shepherd recorded a RBI double of her own to extend the lead to 4-2. Junior Kelsey Borders followed up with a two run single to put the Oilers out in front 6-2. A line out to the second baseman would end the inning.
Walsh was able to score one run in the bottom of the twelfth to put the final score at 6-3.
Findlay outhit the Cavaliers by a margin of eleven hits to eight. The Oilers were led by Trumpler at the plate, as she finished the game 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
In the second game, the Oiler bats failed to get going as they were outhit fourteen to one.
The only Oiler hit came in the bottom of the fourth from a Shepherd single.
After a scoreless first, the Cavaliers scored three runs on four hits in the top of the second. They also added another run in the third to extend their lead to 4-0.
In the fourth inning, Walsh added four more runs on four hits to put the lead at 8-0. In the fifth, they provided more damage by recording five hits and four runs to make the final score 12-0.
Junior Jenna Inman (1-3) recorded the loss for Findlay. She pitched three innings giving up eight runs, on eight hits with two walks. Freshman Molly Crosby pitched the final two innings giving up four runs, on six hits, with two walks.
The Oilers can be caught back on the playing field at home on Wednesday, April 6th for a double header against Lake Erie College. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3:30pm.