Oilers Stay Alive with G-MAC Tournament Victory Over Senators

Xenia, OH – The University of Findlay Oilers began play in their first ever Great Midwest Athletic Conference Softball Tournament on Thursday, May 3 at the Athletes in Action Sports Complex. In their first game, the second seeded Oilers were knocked to the loser bracket after being defeated by the seventh seeded Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers in a 4-0 final. The Oilers kept their G-MAC title hopes alive by winning game two in a 7-4 finish over sixth seeded Davis and Elkins.

Game 1 | L 4 – 0 (Box Score)

Lack of offense was the story of game one, as the Oiler bats were only able to manage four team hits and had eight runners left on base.

The Panthers took the early 3-0 lead on a big three-RBI homerun to start the game in the top of the first.

Kentucky Wesleyan added to their lead in the top of the fourth on a double to the left field gap, bringing the score to the eventual 4-0 final.

The Oilers were able to get runners in scoring position in the first and fifth innings thanks to doubles from Allison Brunner and Salwa Al-Hajabed. The first inning threat was eliminated on a strikeout and a flyout and the fifth inning with a groundout, flyout, and strikeout.

Findlay was able to get a runner to third in the bottom of the seventh, but to no avail as the game would end on a line drive into the Panther shortstop's glove.

Taking the loss on the mound for the Oilers was starting pitcher Hailey Bryan, who in her 4.1 innings pitched allowed seven hits, four runs (all earned), and two walks while striking out three Kentucky Wesleyan batters.

Caragyn Yanek entered the game in the fifth and pitched well, going for 2.2 innings while allowing only two hits, zero runs, and recording two strikeouts.

Game 2 | W 7 – 4 (Box Score)

The Oilers let all of their offensive frustrations out in one inning during game two, as they scored all of their seven runs in the top of the fifth.

The scoreboard was silent until in the bottom of the fourth, when Davis & Elkins took the 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly.

That's when the Findlay bats came alive.

With runners on first and second, Madison Arnold began the Oiler scoring with a two-RBI double to left field.

Amanda Delmonte followed up with a two-RBI double of her own, putting the score at 4-1 in favor of the Oilers.

With two outs and two runners on, Destinie Keeton blasted one over the centerfield fence that increased the lead to 7-1 heading into the bottom of the inning. This was Keeton's fifth homerun of the year.

The Senators did not go away easily, as they scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to 7-4.

It would be the last of their offense though, going down one, two, three in the next two innings to give the Oilers the victory.

With momentum from her performance in game one on the day, Caragyn Yanek got the start and the victory in the circle for Findlay. Yanek went six innings while allowing eight hits, four runs (three earned), and walked just one batter while recording two strikeouts.

Megan Fisher entered the game in the seventh and received the save, her third on the year. Fisher got three Davis and Elkins batters out in succession on a lineout, groundout, and another lineout to end the game.

The Oilers will continue play in the G-MAC tournament on Friday, May 4 when they take on the loser of Hillsdale vs. Cedarville. First pitch is set for 11:00 AM.