Oilers Dominate on Final Day in Tennessee | Beat Ferris St. 6-0
Smyrna, Tenn. - The University of Findlay softball team concluded play at the Music City Invitational in Tennessee on Sunday, Feb. 19 with a 6-0 victory over the Ferris State Bulldogs. That win makes the Oilers 3-2 heading into their annual spring trip while the Bulldogs fall to 1-4.
A pair of hit-by-pitches and an error loaded the bases with one out for Findlay in the first inning, but a pop-up and ground out ended the early threat. Ferris State then did the same thing in the bottom of the first, loaded the bases with two outs, but freshman starter Alexys Antel worked out of the jam, coaxing a pop-up to end the inning.
The Oilers got on the board in the second inning when Bailey Bates (Sr.) was hit by a pitch, the third of the game for Findlay. A passed ball let her scramble to second but on the play, an errant throw by the Bulldogs' catcher allowed Bates to come all the way around to score.
In the top of the third, the first batter of the inning was Annika Bredel (Fr.) and she went deep over the wall in left field, her first career home run. It would not be her last of the day, however, as the very next inning, with a runner on, Bredel hit a blast to center field, putting her team ahead 4-0 through four innings.
Another extra base hit would come in the fifth when Antal, who had tossed four scoreless innings to that point, tripled to right center, seding home Aurora Lescody (Fr.) who pinch ran for Kaitlynn Briggs (Jr.) who singled to start the inning.
Sophomore Hannah Baker singled with one out in the sixth to send the final run of the day home, giving the Oilers a 6-0 lead.
Findlay finished with nine hits in the game while Ferris St. managed just five. The Bulldogs stranded ten runners on base.
Alexys Antal got the win in the circle for the Oilers as she tossed four innings and did not allow a run on four hits. She walked two and struck out three in her collegiate pitching debut.
Findlay is back in action starting next week as they head to the Sunshine State for 12 games between Feb. 25-March 4.