Findlay Splits with Wayne State
The University of Findlay softball team hosted Wayne State (Mich.) University on Wednesday, April 5 for a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader. The Warriors took game one, but Findlay was able to win the second game to move to 16-13 on the season and 6-2 in GLIAC play.
It was a pitcher's duel early in the game as hits were hard to come by. The Oilers managed only three hits in the game, while Wayne State's first hit came in the fifth inning. The Warriors ended the game with nine hits as a team.
Wayne State finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI single by Ashley Messina to take a 1-0 lead. The Warriors extended their lead in the top of the seventh on an error by the Oilers and on another RBI by Kirsten Lucas for a 3-0 final score.
Junior Madison Arnold finished the game 2-for-3 with a triple and a double and fellow junior Meredith Shepherd went 1-for-2.
Senior Jenna Inman (5-4) pitched a complete game for Oilers. She gave up three runs, two earned, on nine hits with three strikeouts.
The second game featured more offense as the Oilers ended the game with eight hits and the Warriors recorded ten hits.
Findlay opened the scoring in the top of the third inning with two runs. With two outs, Arnold singled and stole second to get in scoring position. She would score on a RBI single by Cejer. Cejer would eventually score on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.
Wayne State cut the lead in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Allie Buchanan and in the bottom of the fifth they would tie the game at 2-2 on a RBI by Kristen Lucas.
The Oilers regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Freshman Evyn Kachenmeister drew a walk and was replaced by fellow freshman Madison Mollette. Mollette would steal second and score on a triple by junior Destinie Keeton. Shepherd followed up with a double to score Keeton for a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Findlay added the would be winning run on a RBI by senior Lauren Trumpler.
The Warriors rally would fall short in the bottom of the inning, as they managed to score two runs on a double by Lucas, but a pop fly would end the game with a 5-4 score in favor of the Oilers.
Sophomore Hailey Bryan (9-6) pitching a complete game for the Oilers. She gave up four runs on ten hits with one strikeout.
At the plate Keeton and Arnold both finished the game with two hits.
The Oilers return to the playing field on Saturday, April 8 at Grand Valley State University for another GLIAC double header. The first game is slated for a 1 p.m. start.