Oilers Split on Day 2 at GSC Tournament in Dramatic Fashions
Glenville, W. Va.- The University of Findlay softball team split in the double header on Saturday, February 27th at the GSC Tournament. The Oilers were defeated by West Virgina State 7-4 and then picked up a win versus Glenville State 14-12 (8 innings) to move their record to 4-5 on the season.
Game 1 vs West Virginia State
The opener ended in heartbreak as a walk-off grand slam for West Virginia State ended a game in which the Oilers held the lead for most of the game.
Trailing 1-0 through one inning, the Oilers loaded the bases with three walks in the second. With two outs, senior Megan Fisher laced a double to right center field, but freshman Emily Ickes was thrown out at home trying to score from first. However, Findlay did take a 2-1 lead.
A single run in the fourth for the Yellow Jackets tied the game, but three hits in the sixth inning led to a pair of runs for Findlay and a 4-2 lead. That damage all came with one out as the Oilers took advantage of three straight singles and an error to score those runs.
Leading by two heading into the bottom of the seventh, a single, stolen base, and another single pulled the Yellow Jackets to within one run at 4-3. A error and a walk loaded the bases with one out and with one swing, West Virginia Wesleyan ended the game, a walkoff grand slam.
Megan Fisher led the Oilers offense with three hits and two RBI while Gloria Corona had two hits and two RBI.
Fisher took the loss in the circle as she tossed the complete game and allowed seven runs on five hits. She struck out ten.
The bats for the Oilers were the key to a come from behind, extra innings thriller at the Sue Morris Complex. The Pioneers of Glenville State struck first with a two run double in first inning to make the lead theirs momentarily.
In the next at bats for the Oilers, junior Lexie Hilling drove one over the left field wall for a two-run homerun to tie the game at 2-2.
The Pioneers answered in a huge way to retain the momentum of the game with a six run stretch in the next two innings of their own on just two hits to take an 8-2 lead after three.
The Oilers however gained a spark that was needed when senior Savannah Harvey cut into the lead with another two run homerun in the top of the fourth. The Oilers would strand two on base to end the top half of the inning. The Pioneers then added another run after a homerun of their own to extend the lead 9-4 in their favor.
The Oilers used the fifth and sixth innings to mount the comeback on the Pioneers. In the fifth, freshman Avery Shepherd hit a solo homerun. The Oilers continued the scoring in the top of the sixth when junior Caroline Turner singled to drive in junior Jordyn Poulson and junior Gloria Corona. The Oilers then took advantage of a wild pitch when sophomore Bailey Bates raced across home to be within one run going into the bottom half of the sixth down 9-8 to the Pioneers.
The Pioneers were able to make it tough for the Oilers coming into the last inning by scoring once more before the Oilers' final chances at the plate making the score 10-8 going into the top of the seventh.
With the Oilers needing at least two runs to extend the game, Harvey started the inning off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Senior Megan Fisher singled with no outs and the Oilers having two runners on. Corona moved Fisher over and C. Turner was able to deliver to drive Harvey and Fisher in to tie the game. The Oilers held strong on the defensive end to extend the game into extra innings with the scoreboard showing 10-10.
Senior Devyn Zuro wasted no time in her opportunity at the plate hitting yet another two run home run to drive in freshman Emily Ickes making it their first lead of the game at 12-10. The scoring continued in the eighth with some head up base running by both Shepherd and senior Dylan Wiley. Wiley took off for second to steal safely and on the throw, Shephard quickly sprinted home to make the score 13-10.
With Wiley on third with one out, Fisher drove one to right field to give Wiley enough time to tag on the sacrifice fly. The Oilers compiled a four run eighth inning to move into the lead at 14-10.
The Pioneers would not go away quietly by scoring two until a strike out ended the game in favor of the Oilers 14-12.
The Oilers had a season-high 17 hits including four homeruns and were led by a four hit performance by C. Turner. C. Turner contributed four runs batted in as well. Harvey and Fisher each had three hits in the contest while Shephard and junior Lexie Hilling have a two hit game.
In the circle, the Oilers used three pitchers including Hilling, junior Carly Brandon, and sophomore Molly Pfiffner. Pfiffner received the win after pitching four innings giving up four hits on two earned runs and punching out four batters.
The Oilers will turn around to play two more games tomorrow, Sunday, March 1st versus Shepherd University and Charleston College at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in Glenville, West Virginia to conclude the GSC Tournament.