Oilers Score 14 in Game 1 | Split Twin Bill with Gannon
Clermont, Fla. - The University of Findlay baseball team began a busy week in Florida on Sunday, Feb. 26 with a double-header against Gannon University, which last season, was a participant in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. The two teams played two seven-inning contests, the first of which ended in a 14-7 victory for the Oilers. Game 2 was much closer as a late-game push by the Golden Knights gave the Oilers a 4-3 loss. With the split, Findlay is now 3-2 on the young season while Gannon is now 2-4.
Game 1
Gannon took the lead in the opener, scoring first with a single run in the second inning. But the highlight of the inning came on the final out when senior Anthony Kyle picked up his second strikeout of the game and the 221st of his career. That number broke Findlay's career strikeout record of 220, a record by Greg Otto that had stood since 1990.
In the top of the third inning, Findlay answered back by scoring four runs, all with two outs. The first two came when junior Andrew Micale, who singled to start the inning, and freshman Keelan Daniel came around to score thanks to a fielding error. A wild pitch and RBI single by freshman Casey Maruniak made the score 4-1 in favor of the Oilers.
The next inning, four more runs came around for Findlay. Maruniak highlighted that inning with a two-run home run, the first of his college career. That made the score 8-1.
Gannon tried to stage a comeback as they plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 8-4, but the Oilers would score six runs over the final three innings to put the game out of reach, going on to win 14-7. The big blow of that stretch was a three-run blast by senior Aidan Lao.
Lao finished with two hits, two runs scored, three RBI, and a walk in the game while Maruniak went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI.
Senior Nate Brooks and senior Christian Orr each had two hits. Orr had a double, two runs scored, and an RBI.
Anthony Kyle went 3.2 innings in the start, allowing four runs on ten hits and one walk. He struck out two.
Senior Gavin Bailey picked up the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings and giving up three runs on four hits. He struck out six.
Game 2
After a blowout in the opener, Findlay looked as though they would take control again in the nightcap. In the second inning, Maruniak again went deep over the wall in right center, his second home run of the day. Later that inning, senior Derek Fay hit a sacrifice fly to put the Oilers ahead 2-0.
In the third, Lao hit a ground rule double to center field and later scored on a wild pitch, a 3-0 lead.
Gannon would not go down and began the comeback. The Knights scored two runs in the fourth to pull within one at 3-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, on a single by Micale, Maruniak rounded third and was sent home where was thrown out trying to score, ending the inning.
Gannon tied the game in the fifth and in the sixth, broke through and took the lead.
Findlay couldn't manage a hit in the final two innings, coming up short by a score of 4-3.
Lao again finished with two hits, including a double while Nate Brooks had one hit, a double. Maruniak and Derek Fay each had an RBI in the game.
Freshman Braeden Goulet started and had a good outing. He went five innings and allowed three runs, just one earned, on five hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out seven.
Findlay will take on Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) foe Tiffin University on Monday, Feb. 27 in a non-conference game. That game will start at 10:45 am. Following that contest, the Oilers will again take on Gannon.