Findlay Splits with Northwood on the Road
Midland, Mich.- The University of Findlay softball team headed north to take on the Northwood University Timberwolves for a double header April 29. The Oilers dropped the first game 3-2 before recovering with a 9-4 win in the second. The split gives Findlay a 29-14 record on the season with a 14-8 mark in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are now 33-22 overall and 15-9 in league play.
Game one began in favor of Northwood as they took an early 3-0 lead through three innings. However, the Oilers put two runs in the top of the six but it was too little too late as Northwood would take the win.
Findlay's lone runs of the game were scored in the sixth inning. Senior Avery Shepherd started the inning with a single to shortstop. She was then replaced by pinch runner Jenna Poulson. Freshman Alexys Antal then hit a homerun to right field to send Poulson home as well. This was Antal's second career home run.
Antal also led the Oilers in the circle as she pitched six innings. She allowed three runs on eight hits- with two home runs. She walked two and struck out three. Her record falls to 1-2 on the season.
In the night cap, Findlay was able to get on the board first. They held a 4-0 lead through the second inning. The Timberwolves answered right back as they recorded three runs off of a homerun in the bottom of the third. The Oilers would then outscore Northwood 4-1 in the final innings.
The Oilers found their groove in the second inning as senior Caroline Turner led off the inning with a home run. Senior Olivia Carlton reached first on an error and was eventually sent home by sophomore Rachel Mease who singled through the left side. Senior Makayla Cowan hit down the left side to reach first base. She was later sent home by Shepherd who also singled down the left side. The final run of the inning was scored by Mease after a sacrifice fly by Antal.
After Northwoods three runs in the third inning, the Oilers would add three more runs of their own in the fourth and fifth innings. The night concluded in the seventh inning when Cowan hit a homerun to center field to seal the win for Findlay.
Starting in the circle for the Oilers was senior Molly Pfiffner. She pitched just over four innings- recording three runs on four hits, she struck out two. Relieving her was sophomore Emma Jones who pitched two innings. She allowed three hits with one run- striking out two.
The Oilers will conclude their regular season tomorrow when they take on Hillsdale. Following their games tomorrow, Findlay will await the seeding for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship.