Big Innings Doom Oilers at Ohio Valley
Vienna, WV – The University of Findlay baseball team went south for their second Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) matchups of the season as they took on the Ohio Valley Fighting Scots in a double-header on Saturday, March 23. The Oilers dropped both contests to fall to 6-9 on the year and 1-5 in league play while the Fighting Scots improve to 4-14 overall and 4-2 in the G-MAC.
Game 1 Box Score (L 15-9)
On a sunny day in Vienna, the Oilers took an early lead in the opener, scoring one run in the top of the third inning when senior Derrick Herd drove in junior Jordan Williams with a sac fly. That lead did not last long as a two-run home run in the bottom of the third gave the home team a 2-1 lead through three.
Findlay answered with a single run in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2, but Ohio Valley broke the game open with five runs in the fifth.
The Oilers cut the Fighting Scots' lead to 7-5 with a single run in the sixth on a double from senior Trevor Anderson and two runs in the seventh on a home run by sophomore Tyler Burley. But, again, the Fighting Scots had a big inning as an answer, this time to the tune of six runs in the seventh.
Findlay scored two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth, but it was not enough to overcome the torrid offense that Ohio Valley displayed.
Tyler Burley, senior Nic Varda, and Jordan Williams each had two hits in the game to lead Findlay, which had 12 hits in the game. Burley had two RBI and a run scored while Williams scored a pair of runs.
Junior Austin Rawlins had a two-run home run in the ninth inning in a pinch-hit situation to finish the game with two RBI.
Senior Mark Delas took the loss on the mound to fall to 1-1 on the year. He tossed five innings and allowed seven runs, all earned, on eight hits. He walked four and struck out seven.
Game 2 Box Score (L 7-6)
Another big inning would doom the Oilers in the second contest of the day.
After a scoreless first inning, Ohio Valley put up five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take control of the nightcap. The home team added a run in the fifth to take a 6-0 lead with just two innings to play.
Findlay did not quit as they would explode for six runs of their own in the sixth inning. Freshman Alex Foulks led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. Derrick Herd would then drive the ball over the wall for a two-run bomb that put Findlay's first two runs of the game on the board. After a pair of strikeouts, Austin Rawlins doubled and was followed by another hit by pitch. Trevor Anderson then doubled to plate two runs. Tyler Archambeau singled to cut the lead to 6-5 and after a wild pitch, Jordan Williams doubled down the left field line to tie the game at 6-6.
That did not last as Ohio Valley would score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth.
Findlay had life in the seventh as a double and a single put two runners on, but a fly ball to center field ended the contest and gave OVU the sweep.
Derrick Herd had one hit, a two-run home run, two pick up two RBI and a run scored while Trevor Anderson also had a hit, two RBI, and one run scored.
Ryan Mohr got the start for Findlay and threw five innings, allowing six runs, one earned, on six hits. He walked one and struck out four.
Freshman closer Trey Bame took the loss on the hill as he allowed the sixth inning run for OVU. Bame had two strikeouts.
The Oilers will wrap up the series with OVU on Sunday, March 24 in OVU with a double-header starting at 1:00 pm.