Oilers Offense Goes Dormant in Charleston

Charleston, WV – A day after sweeping the Ohio Valley Fighting Scots in a non-conference double-header, the University of Findlay baseball team took on the University of Charleston Golden Eagles on Saturday, March 6. Charleston, which was picked to win their division in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) preseason poll, swept the Oilers, winning the opener in walk off fashion and taking the nightcap in a game that was much less dramatic. With the losses, Findlay, which picked up just four hits in the double-header, falls to 2-5 on the season while the Golden Eagles remain undefeated at 3-0.

Game 1 (L 4-3 | Box Score)

Findlay snagged the momentum in the contest early as sophomore Cole Kwiatkowski sent the second pitch of the game over the fence in left field for his first career homerun to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead.

That lead was extended in the third inning when junior Brandon Emery, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the frame, came around to score on a fielder's choice by senior Tyler Burley.

Charleston answered in the bottom of the third on a bases loaded walk and later scoring a single run in the fifth on an error by sophomore Cam Farrar.

With the game tied in the top of the sixth, Kwiatkowski led off with a walk, but was picked off for the first out. Burley was hit by a pitch and moved around to third on a double by Farrar. Sophomore Nolan O'Connell then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, sending Burley home and giving the Oilers a 3-2 lead.

Fast forward to the seventh and the Oilers left the bases loaded in the top half of the inning, runners that proved to be critical. In the bottom of the inning, Findlay sent junior Trey Bame to the hill to pick up a save. Bame recorded the first out with no issue but gave up a walk and a stolen base to Colby Johnson of Charleston. A bloop single put runners on first and third with one out and, the Eagles' runner advanced to second on defensive indifference, an intentional walk loaded the bases. James Heavilin then stepped up and singled through the right side to send two runners home and pick up the walk off win.

Findlay finished with three runs on three hits and made one error while Charleston had four runs on eight hits and committed one error.

Game 2 (L 11-0 | Box Score)

Charleston scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead, and that would prove to be all they needed to win the contest as the Oilers offense went dormant.

Findlay would finish the game with just a single hit, a double by Ryan O'Malley in the third inning. In a seven inning game, with 21 outs possible, the Oilers struck out 16 times, struggling to put the ball in play for the duration of the game.

Tyler Trammel took the loss on the hill as he threw one inning and allowed two runs. He got himself into trouble early, walking the first three batters of the game.

Findlay will hold their home opener a week from today on Saturday, March 13. The four-game series against Malone will begin at 1:00 pm on Saturday.