Findlay Moves to 4-4 | Split in Illinois
The University of Findlay softball team traveled to Rosemont, Ill. for matchups against Lewis University and University of Illinois-Springfield. The Oilers split the two ballgames for the second day in a row and are now 4-4 on the season before they head to Clermont, Florida for their spring break trip.
The Oilers needed extra innings to claim a 6-5 victory over Lewis University in the first game of the day. The Oilers got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning. Junior Madison Arnold led off the inning with a double and an error during the following at bat allowed her to score. With a runner on third, junior Amanda Delmonte produced a sacrifice fly. Senior Lauren Trumpler connected on a two-out single to keep the inning alive and junior Kelley Cejer came through with an RBI triple for an early 3-0 Findlay lead.
The Flyers quickly erased the lead in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own. In the bottom of the fourth, Lewis added another run to take a 4-3 lead.
Findlay evened the score in the top of the seventh inning. Junior Destinie Keeton led off with a single and Cejer roped a single to center field. A fielding error on the play allowed an Oiler base runner to come across the plate to force extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth inning, Keeton fired an RBI double to score the runner placed on second to begin the inning. A groundout advanced the runner to third and Keeton scored the would be game winning run.
The Flyers would record a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, but a pop up to center field with two runners on ended the game for a 6-5 final in favor of the Oilers.
On the mound Sophomore Hailey Bryan (2-2) picked up the win after coming in as relief. She pitched two innings giving up one earned run on one hit.
At the plate, Keeton finished the game 2-for-4 with one run scored and an RBI, while Cejer went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
In the second game of the day, Illinois-Springfield jumped out to an early lead and they never looked back as Findlay fell 6-1.
The Prairie Stars recorded one run in the second inning and added two more in the third inning for a 3-0 lead. Ill.-Springfield scored two more runs in the fifth inning before the Oilers could get on the scoreboard.
In the bottom of the fifth with a runner in scoring position, Keeton drilled a single to produce the Oilers first and only run of the game.
Findlay was only able to manage three hits in the game, while the Prairie Stars recorded eight. Keeton, Delmonte and Arnole all went 1-for-3 at the plate for Findlay.
Bryan (2-3) picked up the loss for the Oilers as she pitched four innings giving up five runs (three earned), on six hits and striking out two.
The Oilers softball team returns to action on Monday, March 6 for their first game during their spring break trip to Clermont, Florida. Findlay is set to play at 2:00 p.m. against West Virginia Wesleyan and at 6:00 p.m. against Wayne State (Nebraska).