Gearhart Grand Slam Highlights Oilers Final Day in Florida

Winter Haven, Fla. – The University of Findlay softball team wrapped up their trip south on Saturday, March 7 with a doubleheader split. The Oilers dominated in the opener against the University of Missouri St. Louis but later took a loss against Slippery Rock University to end the trip. With the split, the Oilers come back north with a 12-6 record after putting together a record of 10-2 over the last seven days.

Game 1 (W 11-2 vs. Missouri-St. Louis (5 inn.))

As had been the case all week, the Oilers' offense exploded in the opener on Saturday while the pitching staff continued to dominate.

UMSL did manage a run in the first inning off Findlay starter, junior Megan Fisher. But Findlay answered in the bottom of the second with three runs aided by two errors by the Tritons. After a strikeout started the inning, junior Sadie Gearhart reached on an error by the right fielder and came around to score with a two-out single by sophomore Caroline Turner, tying the game. Junior Devyn Zuro walked and was followed by senior Allison Brunner, who also reached on an error by the right fielder. Turner and Zuro scored on the play giving the Oilers a 3-1 lead.

The score remained close until the fourth inning when Findlay broke the game wide open. Freshman Bailey Bates led off with an infield single and was followed by a walk to Caroline Turner. Zuro ripped a single to center to score Bates and, during the next at-bat, Zuro and sophomore Brooke Arledge, who pinch ran for Turner, advanced on a passed ball to make the score 5-1. Allison Brunner then singled to put runners at the corners and back-to-back fielder's choices by UMSL extended the Oilers' lead to 6-1 and loaded the bases. A walk to sophomore Lyndsey Seamon sent another run home, but the final stamp on the big inning was a grand slam off the bat of Sadie Gearhart, just the second home run of her career. When the dust had settled, Findlay scored eight runs on four hits and held a commanding 11-1 lead.

The Tritons did manage a run in the fifth but that was all as the game would end early by way of the mercy rule.

Findlay scored 11 runs on seven hits and did not make an error while Missouri-St. Louis scored two runs on four hits and made a pair of errors. It was the third time on the trip that the Oilers managed double-digit runs.

Offensively, no one for the Orange and Black recorded a multi-hit game. Gearhart had the big blow, picking up four RBI on the grand slam. She finished 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. Devyn Zuro reached base safely three times as she had a hit and two walks. She had one RBI and two runs scored.

Junior Megan Fisher, who also had a double and a run scored in the game, picked up the win as she tossed a complete game. She allowed just two runs, one earned, on four hits. She walked four and struck out nine.

Game 2 (L 5-0 vs. Slippery Rock)

After winning the previous six games and allowing three runs or fewer in each of those contests, the Oilers fell short versus Slippery Rock by a score of 5-0.

In the first inning, the Rock drove one over the left field wall to put them up first, 2-0 over the Oilers. The Oilers could not get much going throughout most of the game, but in the top of the third, the Oilers were in striking distance to put something on the scoreboard. After an infield hit by Dylan Wiley and a one-out single down the left field line by Caroline Turner, the Oilers looked to make the most of the opportunity. However, a quick two outs ended the inning, keeping the momentum with Slippery Rock.

As momentum goes so did Slippery Rock when they hit yet another home run to centerfield to put the score at 5-0. The Oilers did not have the answer back. In the final four innings, they were only able to notch one hit in the final four innings to fall 5-0 and break the six game winning streak.

Five different Oilers had a single a piece including Turner, Bailey Bates, Devyn Zuro, Sadie Gearhart, and Wiley. In the circle, Carly Brandon took the loss after giving up five runs on three hits, struck out two while allowing three walks.

The Oilers will prepare for their home opener in a double header slated to be played Saturday, March 14 versus Madonna. The games are scheduled for a 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm start.