Findlay Splits with Nova Southeastern | Win Streak Ends at Nine
Melbourne, Fla. - The University of Findlay softball team played two games against Nova Southeastern, which was picked to finish second in the always competitive Sunshine State Conference (SSC). The games took place on Wednesday, March 1 at the USSSA Space Coast Complex and the Oilers earned a split, winning the opener 9-3, extending their winning streak to nine games, before dropping a heartbreaker in the nightcap, a 7-6 walk off win for the Sharks. With the split, Findlay is now 10-3 while Nova Southeastern is 13-5.
Game 1
As has been the case early this year, the top of Findlay's batting order produced in the first inning, led off with a walk by Avery Shepherd. A fielder's choice put Alexys Antal on base. Annika Bredel struck out, but reached thanks to a passed ball. A walk to Olivia Carlton loaded the bases and Findlay struck first when Emma Bode walked, sending Antal home. A groundout plated a second run and a double by Makayla Cowan sent two more home, giving Findlay a 4-0 lead.
The Sharks scored a run in the first and two more in the second to pull within one at 4-3, but the Oilers brough an onslaught of offense to take control.
In the fourth, Bredel ripped a two-RBI double and in the fifth, another two-RBI double came off the bat of Kayla Dykin.
Findlay's final run was an RBI single by Shepherd in the fifth, bringing the mercy rule into play.
Bailey Bates, Cowan, and Dykin all finished with two hits in the game. Cowan and Dykin had a pair of RBI and a run scored.
Dykin also got the win in the circle as she tossed a complete game, allowing just three runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out five.
Game 2
The second game of the twin bill was full of drama as the Sharks would rally for two runs in the bottom of the eighth to win in walk off fashion.
Nova took a 3-0 lead through one inning, but then were stifled, being held scoreless over the next five innings.
Findlay, meanwhile, picked up a run in the third on a double by Bredel and scored another in the sixth on a sac fly off the bat of Brooke Radermacher.
In the top of the seventh, the Oilers took the lead and put themselves in position to sweep the day. The seventh began with a single by Bailey Bates and, after a fly out, Dykin pinch hit and singled. Another pop out got the Sharks one out away from victory, but Olivia Carlton ripped a double, scoring two runs and putting the OIlers ahead 4-3. Makayla Cowan then singled, scoring Carlton and giving Findlay a two-run lead, three outs away from victory.
The Sharks scored twice in the seventh to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
A two-out double by Bates and single by Shepherd again put the OIlers on top, but Nova scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to earn the walk off victory.
Kora Navarro, who entered the game in the second, earned the bulk of the work in the circle, throwing six innings and allowing two runs on four hits. She struck out three.
Findlay has Thursday off before playing two games on Friday, March 3 and two more on Saturday, March 4.