Oilers Continue to Roll in Florida
Winter Haven, Fla. - The University of Findlay softball team continued its' hot start to the 2022 season with a pair of wins on Sunday, Feb. 27. The Oilers defeated Davenport University 1-0 in the day's opener and followed that up with a decisive run-rule victory over Holy Family by a score of 11-0. With the wins, the Oilers improve to 6-2 overall and remain a perfect 4-0 on their spring trip.
Game 1 (Box Score)
At the beginning of the opener vs. Davenport, the Oilers looked to be in trouble early as the Panthers picked up three hits in the opening inning. However, thanks to a caught stealing, no runs were scored.
Davenport had two more hits in the second and a hit by pitch, loading the bases. But starting pitcher Lexie Hilling got out of the jam with a strikeout to keep the game knotted at 0-0.
The trend continued in the third with another pair of runners left on base, giving Davenport seven runners left on base through three innings, but the Oilers did not break as the Panthers remained scoreless.
On the flip side, Findlay, which had just one hit entering the bottom of the fourth, finally broke through. Sophomore Avery Shepherd led off the inning with a double and the next batter, Megan Demler, singled, scoring Shepherd to give Findlay a 1-0 lead.
Neither team threatened the remainder of the game as the Oilers would go on to pick up the win in a tight battle with a regional opponent.
Hilling picked up the win in the game as she tossed 4.1 innings and, despite giving up eight hits, did not allow a run. She struck out three and walked just one. Senior Megan Demler came into the game for the final 2.2 innings to earn the save. She did not allow a hit, walked one, and struck out three.
Game 2(Box Score)
The second contest of the game was a much different game as the Oilers would cruise past Holy Family to earn an 11-0 victory.
Shepherd, who would end the day with three hits, took the first pitch of the game deep over the wall in center field to give Findlay an early lead. Later in the inning, Megan Demler went deep to left for her second home run of the season.
In the top of the third, the Oilers added three more runs. After a double by Shepherd to lead off the inning, freshman Lainey Bingham walked and Lexie Hilling Singled to plate two runs. Demler scored on a double-steal to put Findlay ahead 5-0.
Holy Family, on the other hand, struggled offensively and did not have a base runner until the third inning when one reached on an error.
The onslaught continued in the top of the sixth when the Oilers scored six runs. The inning started with a walk to senior Devyn Zuro and, after an error, junior Olivia Carlton hit a three-run bomb to right center. Three more runs would score, giving Findlay an 11-0 lead.
With a no-hitter still in play, Holy Family finally picked up its first hit of the game in the sixth inning, but it was not enough as they would remain scoreless, ending the game in run-rule.
McKenzie Anderson picked up the win in the circle, throwing a six-inning one-hitter in which she did not walk a batter and struck out four.
Avery Shepherd had two hits in the game including a home run and a double. She also scored two runs. Lexie Hilling had a hit and two RBI.