Oilers Split in Illinois
The University of Findlay softball team traveled to Rosemont, Ill. on Friday, February 24 to play Lindenwood University and University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The Oilers split the games on the day to stand at 3-3 on the season.
In the first matchup on the day with Lindenwood, the Oilers fell by a 6-3 deficit. Findlay struggled at the plate with only four hits in the game compared to 13 for Lindenwood. The Lions jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, but the Oilers were able to knot up the score in the third with a solo shot to left field by junior Madison Arnold (3rd on the season).
Findlay tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Senior Lauren Trumpler got things going with a single up the middle. A fielding error followed by a put-out resulted in a runner on second with two outs. Junior Kelley Cejer stepped to the plate and connected on a RBI double and fellow junior Hayley Apple followed up with an RBI triple for a 3-1 Oiler lead.
Lindenwood answered with three runs of their own in the sixth inning to regain the lead. The Lions added two insurance runs in the seventh inning and held Findlay scoreless for a 6-3 final score.
Sophomore Hailey Bryan (1-2) took the loss on the mound for the Oilers. She pitched 6.2 innings giving up six earned runs and striking out three batters.
The Oilers used a two run fourth inning to defeat the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in the second game of the day. The Rangers opened up the scoring with their first and only run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Findlay failed to get the bats going early as the first hit they registered was a single by junior Destinie Keeton in the fourth inning. Junior Amanda Delmonte roped a triple down the right field line to bring Keeton around the bases to tie the ballgame. Trumpler broke the tie with an RBI single for a 2-1 Findlay lead, which would be the final score.
Senior Jenna Inman (1-0) pitched a complete game for the Oilers, giving up only one earned run, on six hits with one strike out.
At the plate, the Oilers only recorded three hits in the game, but the timing of those hits were in crucial moments.
The Oilers return to the playing field on Saturday, February 25 with games against Lewis University at 9:00 a.m. and University of Illinois-Springfield at 11:00 a.m. in the Dome at Rosemont, Ill.