Oilers Earn Split vs Malone with Pair of 1-0 Wins
Findlay, Ohio – Two runs was all the University of Findlay baseball team needed on Sunday, March 14 to even the series with the Malone Pioneers. After dropping both games on Saturday, the Oilers picked up a pair of 1-0 wins Sunday to split the series and improve their record to 4-7 on the year and 2-2 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while the Pioneers are now 7-4 overall and 2-2 in the G-MAC.
Both games were similar in that pitching dominated the entirety of the contest, but Malone errors proved costly in Findlay's final at-bats of each game to help push the winning runs across the plate.
Sophomore Chase Hopewell got the start in the opener and went toe-to-toe with Malone's Eric, a two-time all-G-MAC performer. Hopewell was in control from the start, allowing just a single hit, the first batter of the game, in five innings of work. The sophomore never really got into trouble despite allowing six free-passes in his time on the hill. Hopewell finished the game with six strikeouts.
Junior Bailey McCord, who pitched in last night's contest, as well, picked up the win on the hill as he threw the sixth inning. He allowed just one hit and struck out back-to-back batters to end the sixth.
In the bottom of the inning, senior Ethan St. Clair singled to leadoff the inning and advanced to second when Malone's shortstop dropped a throw on a sacrifice bunt attempt. The next batter, sophomore Cam Farrar, singled to right center to plate St. Clair and give the Oilers their lone run of the game. Findlay had a chance for more but, on a sacrifice fly attempt, senior Ryan O'Malley was called out at third for leaving early. A strikeout ended the inning.
Senior Jordan Bekier came out of the bullpen to pick up his first of two saves on the day as he recorded three outs to end the game.
Game two had a similar story line as both pitchers went back-and-forth with zeros on the board. For Findlay it was sophomore Tyler Trammel who started on the hill. Trammel tossed five innings in the no-decision and allowed just two hits while striking out five and walking two.
After an inning and two-thirds by junior Ben Calisto, McCord again came out of the bullpen to pitch in his third consecutive game. McCord earned the win as he tossed an inning and a third and allowed no runs on not hits while walking just one and striking out three.
In the bottom of the eighth, junior Christian Orr led off with a walk and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt by the Malone pitcher who sailed a ball over his first baseman's head. Orr then scored when junior Brandon Emery hit a ball to first that rolled under the glove of Malone's first baseman and into right field. Orr's run gave Findlay a 1-0 lead which was all they would need.
Bekier again came in for the save and allowed one hit in the ninth, a leadoff double. A sac bunt advanced the tying run to third with one out, but a pop-out to third base and a strikeout ended the game with the Oilers on top.
Findlay will be back on the diamond on Saturday and Sunday, March 20-21 when they head to North Canton to take on Walsh University in a four-game set.