Oilers Extend Winning Streak with Sweep of Ashland
Findlay, Ohio - The University of Findlay softball team extended its' winning streak to seven games by sweeping the Ashland Eagles on Sunday, Apr. 3 in Findlay, Ohio. The Oilers picked up two wins via the run-rule, defeating Ashland 8-0 in five innings in the opener and following that up with an 11-3 victory in six innings to close out the game. With the two wins, Findlay improves to 21-9 on the year and is now 5-1 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while the Eagles struggles continue, falling to 6-13 overall with an 0-6 record in the conference.
Findlay got the scoring party started right away in the opener when, with two outs, senior Caroline Turner ripped a double to right field, sending senior Lexie Hilling, who singled, home to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, it was Turner who again delivered a run-scoring blow to the Eagles when she singled to score senior Megan Demler. A double by senior Devyn Zuro put runners on second and freshman Brooke Radermacher singled, scoring Turner and putting Findlay ahead 3-0.
Move ahead to the fourth and once again, Caroline Turner found herself at the plate with runners on base. Turner delivered again with an RBI double. That was followed by another double and two RBI by Zuro, extending the Oilers lead to a convincing 6-0 margin.
In the fifth, needing just two runs to end the game via run-rule, freshman Alissa Davis singled to lead off the inning and scored on a double by sophomore Avery Shepherd. After a single by Demler and a fielder's choice by Hilling, Caroling Turner delivered for a final time, ripping a single to center field and sending the winning run across the plate.
Findlay finished the game with eight runs on 14 hits and no errors while the Eagles did not score and had five hits and three errors.
Turner had the big game offensively, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI. She also scored a pair of runs. Zuro had two doubles and two RBI in the game while Avery Shepherd had a pair of hits, including a double.
Lexie Hilling got the win, her seventh of the year, by throwing five innings without allowing a run. She scattered five hits and two walks while striking out three.
After a decisive victory in the opener, the Oilers wasted no time asserting themselves as the more dominant team in the nightcap, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control of the game.
A one-out double by Demler was followed by a two-run home run off the bat of Lexie Hilling. Back-to-back walks and an error loaded the bases and junior Olivia Carlton singled home a run. Following a strikeout, with the bases still loaded, Makayla Cowan hit an opposite field triple, plating three runs for the Oilers and giving the home team a 6-0 advantage.
Two more runs scored in the second, the first of which came on a double by Devyn Zuro, her third double of the day. Carlton picked up the second RBI of the inning on a sacrifice fly to right field.
A home run in the third inning by Avery Shepherd put Findlay ahead 9-0.
Findlay will look to continue its winning streak with games on the road against Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday, April 9.
Ashland started to make a comeback, scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to cut the Oilers lead to 9-3, but a home run by Lexie Hilling led off the sixth and a two-RBI double by Radermacher ended the game by run-rule at 11-3.
The Oilers finished the game with 11 runs on ten hits and no errors while the Eagles scored three runs on five hits and made two errors.
Hilling was 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and three RBI while Zuro went 2-for-2 with two doubles, giving her four on the day. Demler went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Demler also got the win in the circle as she threw a complete game, tossing six innings and allowing three runs, two earned. She gave up five hits while striking out nine.