Findlay Sweeps Ashland
The University of Findlay softball team hosted Ashland University for a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) double header on Tuesday, April 19th. The Oilers swept the Eagles 7-6 and 3-0 to improve to 29-15 on the season and to 15-7 in the GLIAC.
Game 1 W 7-6 (Box Score)
In the first matchup on the evening, Ashland scored four unearned runs in the first inning due to some costly miscues by the Oilers.
Findlay answered in the second with three runs on three hits. Sophomore Kelley Cejer led off with a single. With two outs, sophomore Hayley Apple doubled to score Cejer and a fielding error by the Eagles allowed another runner to reach base. Sophomore Meredith Shepherd delivered with a two RBI double to left field to cut the lead to 4-3.
The Oilers scored two more runs in the bottom of the third. Following a double by junior Katie Dunphy, Cejer came through with a RBI single. The go ahead run came on a RBI single by sophomore Lauren Yacks. Junior Kelsey Borders also singled in the inning.
Two more Findlay runs came in the fourth inning from a RBI single by Lauren Trumpler, followed by a RBI double by Cejer to extend the lead to 7-4.
Ashland would score one run in the fifth and sixth inning to make the final 7-6.
The Oilers registered ten hits in the contest, while Ashland only had five. At the plate, Findlay was led by Cejer, who finished 4-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
On the mound, junior Jenna Inman (2-3) picked up the victory. She pitched six innings, giving up six runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Freshman Hailey Bryan picked up her first save of the season, and of her career, after pitching the final inning.
Game 2 W 3-0 (Box Score)
Coming off of her perfect game on Sunday, sophomore Chelsea McManaway (15-4) hurled another gem in today's second contest. She pitched a complete game shutout and had a no hitter through six innings. She finished the game giving up only one hit, walking two, while striking out eleven. With those eleven strikeouts, McManaway bested her own school record of strikeouts in a season. Last season she finished with 177 and after today's game she is up to 187 on the season.
Findlay got on the board in the second inning thanks to a RBI single by junior Amanda Delmonte to take a 1-0 lead. Borders and sophomore Madison Arnold singled in the inning as well.
The final runs of the game came in the sixth inning. Freshman Breanna Cleland led off with a double. Then back-to-back RBI doubles by Shepherd and Trumpler put the final score at 3-0.
The Oilers recorded nine hits in the second game, but they could not quite get hits when they needed them as they left ten runners on base.
Shepherd and Trumpler each finished the game 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI.
Findlay is back in GLIAC action on Saturday, April 23rd for a double header at home against Hillsdale College. The first game is slated at 12pm.