Oilers Overcome Eight-Run Deficit | Walk Off vs TNU to Extend Streak to 15

Findlay, Ohio – The streak almost ended, and then it didn't. On Saturday, April 16, the University of Findlay softball team welcomed the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans to Findlay, taking on another one of the top teams in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and putting its' 13-game win streak on the line. The Oilers used solid pitching in the opener to pick up a 4-1 victory and then came back from a 9-1 deficit to win thrilling game in the nightcap, an 11-10 victory in extra innings. The win is the 15^th consecutive for the Oilers and gives the Orange and Black a 29-9 record with a 13-1 record in conference while the Trojans fall to 22-13 overall with a 6-6 record in the G-MAC.

Game 1 (Box Score)

Trevecca Nazarene came to Findlay as arguably the toughest test for the Oilers over the past couple of weeks and looked to play spoiler to Findlay's gaudy win streak. The Trojans put a run on the board in the first to take an early lead, but did leave two runners on base. That was the only run TNU would score in the opener.

In the third, three consecutive singles by senior Lexie Hilling, senior Caroline Turner, and freshman Brooke Radermacher tied the game at 1-1.

The following inning, senior Kyla Snow led off with a double and, after pinch runner Savannah Harvey entered the game, back-to-back sacrifice bunts led to a run and a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Avery Shepherd, who would play hero in the second game of the day, doubled to right center to add to Findlay's lead. With two outs, a single by Hilling sent the final run home, the third of the inning and the fourth of the day.

Neither team had much offense the rest of the way as Findlay went on to a victory in the opener.

Senior Megan Demler got the win, her 12^th of the year, by tossing a complete game. She threw seven innings and allowed just one run on three hits. She walked three and struck out nine.

Shepherd had a pair of doubles in the contest while Snow had two hits, including a double, and Hilling had two hits.

Game 2 (Box Score)

As well as the Oilers have been playing over this stretch, the team has rarely been put in tough positions as the offense and pitching have both been incredibly solid. The second game on Saturday was the toughest test Findlay had faced and it was a memorable one.

Trevecca wasted no time, knocking out Findlay's starting pitcher with no outs in the second inning and taking a commanding 9-1 advantage through just two innings.

Then the script was flipped.

The third inning was eventful in that the Oilers held the Trojans scoreless for the first time in the game and then came back and scored four runs in the bottom half, making the score 9-5 and giving the home team some life. In that third, Shepherd singled and scored on a triple off the bat of junior Makayla Cowan. Cowan then came in on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Hilling. The big blast of the inning was a two-run double by Kyla Snow, scoring Brooke Radermacher and Turner.

Fast-forward to the bottom of the seventh inning, the Oilers were trailing 10-7. A pop up started the inning for the first out. Snow walked and was pinch run for, putting a runner on first. That walk forced Trevecca to make a pitching change as they went to their game one starter, hoping to shut the game down. The next batter struck out for the second out of the inning. Junior Bailey Bates, who leads the conference in hit-by-pitches this season, was hit, putting two runners on base with two outs. That turned the lineup over, bringing up Avery Shepherd. The standout shortstop then laced a ball on a line to left field. In a couple of seconds the ball reached the fence and skipped off the top and over the wall, tying the game at 10-10 and sending the game to extra innings.

TNU went scoreless in the eighth and in the bottom half, with one out, Caroline Turner singled to put a runner on. Radermacher then rolled a ball to second base and the throw to second beat Turner but was dropped by the Trojans' shortstop. Enter senior Devyn Zuro who struggled in game one and was not in the starting lineup for the nightcap. Zuro, who entered at third base in the top of the inning, hit a screaming line drive over the centerfielder's head, ending the game in walkoff fashion, keeping the Oilers streak alive.

Shepherd had a monster game yet again as she went 3-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored. Caroline Turner went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Makayla Cowan had a big time game, as well, going 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBI and a run scored, often fouling off multiple pitches to keep her at-bats alive.

Demler was credited with the win and improved to 13-3 on the year, but a big performance in the circle came from junior McKenzie Anderson. She came in relief in the fourth and threw 4.2 innings, allowing just one run on six hits while walking just one. That performance kept the Oilers in the game, giving the Orange and Black a chance to come back.

Findlay will be back in action on Friday, April 22 when they travel to Ursuline College to take on the Arrows.