Oilers Split Wild Doubleheader with ODU
Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team took on the Ohio Dominican University Panthers in a doubleheader on Friday, April 14 in a battle of Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) South Division opponents. The Oilers dominated in the opener, winning 20-3, but lost the nightcap by a score of 9-5. WIth the split, Findlay's record moves to 19-15 on the year with a 10-8 mark in the G-MAC while ODU goes to 16-18 with a 9-9 record in the conference.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Findlay's first run came right away as senior Aiden Lao doubled to leadoff the inning and came around to score on a one-out single by senior Cam Farrar.
ODU took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second, but four runs in the bottom of the inning put the Oilers in control. That frame began with a home run down the left field line by senior Christian Orr, tying the game. A walk and single put runners on base for senior Cole Kwiatkowski who doubled to left center, scoring freshman Keelan Daniel who walked. After a groundout, freshman Casey Maruniak showcased his power, shooting a ball out over the wall in right field, a three-run, opposite field home run that put the Oilers ahead 6-2.
Another run in the third made it 7-2 and in the fourth, a bases loaded walk to junior Andrew Micale made it 8-2. The big blow of the game came when the next hitter, Keelan Daniel, launched a ball over the wall in right for a grand slam. By the end of the inning, Findlay held a 13-2 lead.
Seven more runs would score for the Oilers who kept the pressure on, ultimately leading to a 17-run victory.
Senior Anthony Kyle picked up his third win of the year in the game, throwing six innings and allowing just two runs, none earned, on five hits. He walked a pair and struck out four.
In the second game, ODU was able to bounce back, scoring four runs in the first two innings to take a quick 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, an RBI double by Orr made it 4-1 and in the third, a single by Maruniak brought the score to 4-2.
Findlay pulled to within a run through three innings, trailing 4-3, but, after a scoreless fourth, four runs in the fifth for the Panthers gave the visiting team control of the contest.
The bottom of the fifth presented a good opportunity at a comeback for the Oilers. Farrar led off the inning with a home run to deep center field, his 11th of the year, tying his own single-season record from a season ago. That RBI was also the 118th of his career which moves him into fourth all-time at UF.
A double by senior Nate Brooks and single by sophomore Austin Adelman produced a run. Two more infield singles loaded the bases with the Oilers trailing by three, but a strikeout ended the threat and the Oilers would get just one runner on base in the final two innings.
Freshman Braeden Goulet was the pitcher of record as he threw four innings and gave up six runs, three earned, on four hits. He walked four and struck out six.
Maruniak was one of multiple big bats for Findlay on the day as he would go 4-for-7 with a home run, four RBI, five runs scored, and three stolen bases.
Lao and Orr also had four hits apiece to help lead the Oilers at the dish. Lao finished with a double, an RBI, and four runs scored while Orr had a double, a home run, three RBI, and four runs scored.
Kwiatkowski had three hits, two of which were doubles, and drove in four while scoring three. Keelan Daniel had the most runs batted in on the day as he finished with five on two hits including his game one grand slam.
Findlay and ODU will conclude their four-game set tomorrow, Saturday, April 15 with another doubleheader. That will begin at 1:00 pm.