Oilers Swept by Lakers

Findlay, OH – The University of Findlay baseball team dropped their final two games of their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) series with Grand Valley State University on Sunday, April 24. The losses give the Oilers a record of 13-22 on the year with a 6-14 mark in GLIAC play.

Game 3 (L 9-4) Box Score  Video Replay

Two lead changes on two big swings was the story in the third game of the series. The Oilers held a three-run lead through five innings but gave it up after disaster struck in the sixth as the Orange and Black fell 9-4.

GVSU loaded the bases in the first inning, but some clutch pitching from starter Austin Rodesky thwarted the scoring chance. The Lakers did score a single run in the third inning, but that lead did not last long.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, sophomores Pete Burkett and Christion Smith singled, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Senior Kris Hayward then delivered a double deep down the right field line, scoring Burkett and tying the game at 1-1. After two outs, sophomore Josh Schwerer then blasted a ball over the left field wall to put the Oilers on top 4-1 and swinging the momentum in favor of the home team.

The teams traded zeros in the fifth but in the top of the sixth, three straight singles loaded the bases and Jason Ribecky launched a grand slam over the fence in right field. Now trailing 5-4, the Oilers allowed four more runs in the inning for a total of eight in the frame.

As a team, Findlay scored four runs on eight hits. They made three errors and left seven runners on base.

Rodesky, now 5-6 on the year, took the loss on the mound as he pitched five innings and allowed seven runs, five earned, on ten hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Hayward was the only Oilers hitter with two hits. He had an RBI and a run scored.

Schwerer picked up three RBI and a run scored on his lone hit, the fourth inning home run.

Game 4 (L 13-6) Box Score Video Replay

The Lakers saved their best offensive performance for the final game of the four-game series as they were able to hang up _ runs on the Oilers pitching staff. A six-run fifth inning marked the second time on the day where the Blue and White were able to score at least six runs in an inning.

Findlay finally got on the board in the sixth inning when Cappiello, who now owns a five game hitting streak, walked to lead off the inning. He then raced around the bases on a double down the left-field by senior Jordan Garcia. Garcia later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kris Hayward, making the score 11-2.

The Oilers tacked on another run in the bottom of the eighth when Peter Yorgen roped a first pitch fastball to center field, scoring Cappiello, who singled to start the inning. Freshman Jordan Williams then scored on a ground out and the next pitch, Eric Riha drove a ball over the head of the right fielder for a double and yet another run for Findlay. After the inning was over, the Orange and Black had scored four runs and cut the lead to 13-6.

Findlay scored six runs on seven hits, made two errors and left nine runners on base.

Freshman Tyler Kennedy took the loss on the hill and goes to 0-1 on the year. He pitched four innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits. He walked one and struck out four.

The offense was led by Brian Cappiello who picked up two hits, scored two runs, and walked twice.

The Oilers are not in action until next Saturday when they travel to Detroit, MI to take on Wayne State University for their final road conference series of the year.