Oilers Sweep Storm
The University of Findlay softball team improved their record to 24-10 on the season and 10-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a pair of victories on Tuesday, April 5th against the Storm of Lake Erie College at Anderson Field in Findlay, Ohio.
In the first game of the double header, the Oilers won 7-4 thanks to a five run fourth inning.
Both teams failed to get anything going early on, as the game was scoreless heading into the third inning. In the top of the third, Lake Erie scored on an RBI single to take a 1-0 advantage.
In the bottom half of the inning, Findlay answered with two runs on three hits. With one out, sophomore Amanda Delmonte doubled. She was brought home by a RBI triple from senior Brooke Scherger. Later in the inning, Scherger scored on a single from freshman Rebecca Harvey to take the lead 2-1.
In the top of the fourth, the Storm regained the lead. With two outs and bases loaded Marissa Rizzo cleared the bases with a three RBI double to go ahead 4-2.
They would only lead for a short time as the Oilers recorded five runs on four hits and took advantage of two miscues by Lake Erie. Junior Lauren Trumpler led off with a double and sophomore Meredith Shepherd singled to advance the runner. A wild pitch would score the lead runner and Shepherd moved to third. An error and walk loaded the bases for freshman Carleigh Cousino. Cousino delivered with a two RBI single and Delmonte followed up with a RBI groundout to extend the Findlay lead to 6-2. The final run of the inning, and of the game, came from a RBI single by Harvey to put the final score at 7-2 in favor of the Oilers.
In the final three innings both pitchers settled down, as only one hit was recorded.
On the mound, freshman Hailey Bryan (10-5) picked up the win. She pitched a complete game giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits, with no walks and striking out three.
At the plate, the Oilers were led by Cousino, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Shepherd (2-for-3), and Harvey (2-for-3, 2 RBIs).
In the second game, Findlay outhit Lake Erie by a margin of ten to six, which led to a 6-2 victory.
Junior Jenna Inman started on the mound and pitched one inning, giving up no runs on two hits, with one walk. Sophomore Chelsea McManaway (13-2) recorded the win after coming in to pitch the final six innings. She gave up two runs on four hits, with one walk while striking out twelve.
After a scoreless first, Findlay took the lead in the second and never looked back. Cousino started off the second inning by getting hit by a pitch. Delmonte singled and a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Lauren Yacks moved the runners. A walk by freshman Erika Farst loaded the bases for Scherger. Scherger came in clutch for the Oilers, as she came through with a three RBI double to give Findlay a 3-0 lead. Back-to-back groundouts would end the inning.
With the lead, McManaway got in the zone. From the bottom of the second through the fifth inning, she struck out ten of twelve batters.
In the top of the sixth, Findlay added to their lead. With two outs, Scherger tripled and an error allowed her to score to put Findlay ahead 4-0. In the bottom of the sixth, the Storm answered with a solo shot to left field to cut the lead to 4-1.
In the top of the seventh, Trumpler singled to start things off and junior Kelsey Borders was hit by a pitch. Cousino singled to load the bases for sophomore pinch hitter, Madison Arnold. Arnold did her job by delivering a two RBI double to center field to give Findlay a 6-1 lead.
Lake Erie added a run in the bottom of the seventh for a final score of 6-2.
At the plate, Findlay was led by Scherger (4-for-4, triple, two doubles, three RBIs), Trumpler (2-for-3), and Arnold (1-for-1, double and two RBIs).
The Oilers continue GLIAC play this week as they are on the road at Grand Valley State University for a double header on Saturday, April 9th. The first game is set to begin at 1pm.