Wingate, N.C. – The University of Findlay baseball team began its' annual spring break trip with a game at Wingate University on Friday, Feb. 23, to take on the Bulldogs which are a perennial top-25 team and in 2021, won the NCAA DII National Championship. The loss gives the Oilers a 1-4 record in the young campaign while Wingate, which has now won five straight, improves to 7-4.
UF went quietly in the top of the inning before, in the bottom of the frame, the home team got a two-out, two-run home run to take an early 2-0 advantage. An RBI double in the third extended that lead to 3-0.
The Oilers only hit of the game to that point had come on a first inning single by sophomore Keelan Daniel. After that hit, eight straight were retired before Daniel ripped a double down the right field line for his, and his team's, second hit of the game. That started a string of four consecutive hits for Findlay as Daniel was followed by singles from senior Aidan Lao, senior Cam Farrar, and senior Nate Brooks. That barrage made the score 3-2, however, three straight were retired to end the threat with two runners left on base.
Findlay's starter, senior Logan Bragg, had settled in, stranding runners on base and not allowing a run in each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings. That effort kept his team in the game and in the top of the sixth, that paid off as Brooks singled and stole second with one out to give the Oilers some life. After advancing on a single by sophomore Andrew Williams, Brooks came in to score after a line drive by senior Andrew Micale was caught at short and thrown beyond first base in an effort to get Williams. Williams got up and attempted to take second but was thrown out on the play, but the game was now tied 3-3.
The 'Dogs scored a run in the bottom of the sixth, but left the bases loaded which gave the Oilers a boost, but two more runs in the bottom of the seventh made the score 6-3 which would prove to be insurmountable.
The Oilers finished the game with three runs on nine hits and no errors while Wingate had six runs on nine hits and an error.
Bragg took the loss on the hill but put together a decent outing, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing four runs on six hits. He struck out six and walked four in a 106-pitch outing.
Daniel, Lao, Farrar, and Brooks all finished with two hits in the game with Daniel's double serving as the only extra-base hit for Findlay.
The Oilers will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 24, with another contest against Wingate. That game will begin at 4 pm.
