Oilers Sweep Conference-Opening Double Header with Hillsdale

Defiance, OH- The University of Findlay baseball team played its first set of conference games on Sunday Mar 13^th against the 6-8 Hillsdale College Chargers in a four-game series. Due to weather, the first 2 games were moved to Defiance High School. Findlay looked to improve on a 4-10 record and start conference play-off strong.  

Game One 9 innings- (W 8-6) 

Hillsdale started the scoring off in the top of the second when a leadoff double came round to score on a single up the middle later in the inning. That single would also come around to score later in the inning giving the Chargers a 2-0 lead. 

Findlay would bring a run across in the bottom of the third when junior Cam Farrar reached on an error that score freshmen Jabin Bates (single).  

Hillsdale would respond in the top of the 4^th inning with a solo homerun to left center. A few batters latter Hillsdale would send another ball over the left field fence for a two-run homerun putting them up by 4. A two out single later in the inning would push the Chargers to up by 5 after 3 and a half innings of play. 

In the bottom of the 5^th inning Farrar would send a ball over the left field fence that would bring Bates and senior Ryan O'Malley(double) to bring the score back to within 2 runs. 

Freshmen Austin Adelman would put the Oilers back to within one run when he sent a ball over left field for a solo homerun, his second of the season. Bates would drive in the tying run later in the inning when he would score junior Aiden Lao (walk) on a single up the middle. Later in the inning Bates would score on a sacrifice fly by junior Nolan O'Connell. During the next batter O'Malley would come around to score on a balk to give the Oilers a 8-6 lead. 

Senior Anthony Kyle started on the mound for the Oilers. Kyle threw 5.2 innings allowing 6 earned runs and striking out 6 batters. Freshmen Zavier Thornton would in to pitch next for the Oilers. Thornton would throw 2.1 innings allowing no runs and striking out two batters while picking up the win. Senior Gavin Bailey would come in to start the top of the 9^th on the mound for Findlay. He would allow no runs and walk 2 batters in .1 innings of work. Freshmen Ashton Schroeder would be next out of the bullpen getting a double play to end the game and pick up the save.  

Game Two 7 innings- (W 4-2) 

Hillsdale started the second game off early scoring in the top of the first with an RBI ground out to give them a 1-0 lead.  

An RBI ground out from Farrar in the bottom of the first would allow Bates to score and bring the score to 1-1.  

Farrar would break the tie open in the bottom of the 4^th inning with a solo homerun to give the Oilers a 2-1 lead. O'Connell would match Farrar with a solo homerun of his own to put Findlay up by 2. A rundown with 2 outs by Alex Folks (fielders' choice) would allow Orr (single) to score from third giving Findlay a 4-1 lead. 

A lead off solo homerun to start off the 6^th inning for Hillsdale would bring the score back to 4-2. 

Senior Bailey McCord started on the mound for Findlay. McCord would toss 5.1 innings earning the win allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 6 Charger batters. Schroeder would come in to relieve McCord. Schroeder would finish the game on the mound and record the save while allowing no earned runs. 

The Oilers will be back on the diamond on Mar 14 at the Cube to play the final two games of the 4 game series against Hillsdale starting at 1 o'clock.