Findlay Sweeps Reigning G-MAC Tournament Champ
Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team made it five straight conference wins with a double-header sweep over Kentucky Wesleyan on Friday, March 23 at Fifth Third Field in Findlay. With the wins, the Oilers improve to 12-4 overall with a 5-1 mark in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while the Panthers, last season's G-MAC Tournament Champions, fall to 12-11 with a 2-4 mark in the league.
Game 1 (W 5-2 | Box Score | Video Replay)
Both teams were locked in a pitcher's dual in the opener as aces Ryan Hundley and Colin Gossard went toe-to-toe. Neither allowed a run until the sixth inning while Hundley did not allow a hit until the sixth.
KWC was able to finally get on the board in the top half of the inning with a pair of runs on two hits. The Panthers were helped by a pair of errors by the Oilers' defense.
Findlay would come back with five runs in their half of the inning, which began with a double off the bat of freshman Ethan St. Clair, Findlay's first hit of the day. Derrick Herd would eventually hit St. Clair in on a sac fly for the first out of the inning. From there, the Oilers would take advantage of loaded bases as the Panthers walked in a pair of runs and also allowed runs via wild pitch and passed ball. When the final out of the inning was made, the Oilers held a 5-2 lead.
Gossard took the hill through eight innings when he turned it over to the G-MAC saves leader, Josh Robinson. Robinson, who would earn a pair of saves on the day, set down the Panthers in order to close out the win.
St. Clair, sophomore Casey Gould, freshman Tyler Burley, and senior Josh Schwerer each had hits for Findlay. St. Clair and Burley also scored runs while Schwerer picked up an RBI.
Colin Gossard earned his third win of the season as he tossed eight innings and allowed just two runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out a season-high 11 batters.
Game 2 (W 4-3 | Box Score | Video Replay)
The nightcap was another tight ball game that saw the Oilers score a pair of runs in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. KWC got to freshman Jordan Bekier in the third inning, playing three runs in the frame to regain the lead.
The fifth inning would be the deciding inning as Findlay would plate a pair of runs to take a 4-3 lead. Josh Schwerer led off with a single to right center and was followed by a single from Cameron Johnson that advanced Schwerer to third. St. Clair drove Schwerer in with a sac fly for the first run and a single from Derrick Herd plated Johnson for the go-ahead run.
Bekier earned his second win of the season as he threw five innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits. He walked three and struck out two. Josh Robinson came in for the final four outs to earn his league-leading seventh save of the young season.
Schwerer finished the game with a hit, an RBI, and a run scored while Herd and Ryan O'Malley each had a hit and RBI.
Findlay is back on the field to take on last year's regular season Great Midwest champs, the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans, tomorrow, March 24, at 1:00pm.