Harrogate, Tenn. – The University of Findlay softball team kicked off the 2024 campaign on Saturday, Feb. 3 with a double-dip in Harrogate, Tennessee at the Railsplitter Invite. The Oilers opened the year with a 9-4 victory over the Ferris State University Bulldogs and followed that up with a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters.

Findlay's last appearance on the diamond came in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Championship game which ended in a heartbreaking loss, ending the season.

Game 1 - UF-FSU Box Score (W 9-4)

2024 got off to a quick start when, after a run by the Bulldogs in the top of the first, the Oilers came back with five runs. Senior Avery Shepherd led off the bottom of the first with a single and would eventually come around to score on a single by senior Kaitlynn Briggs. RBI's from junior Lainey Bingham, junior Hannah Baker, and freshman Joslynne Frazier made the score 4-1. The final run of the inning came on a sacrifice bunt by junior Alissa Davis.

Leading 7-2 in the sixth, Bingham and junior Cassie Warner ran the double-steal to perfection, allowing Warner to score. On the next play, an error pushed the final run of the game across for Findlay, making it 9-2.

Shepherd, Bruggs, and Baker all finished with two hits in the game while Frazier led the team with two RBI. Sophomore Annika Bredel had one hit, a triple, and scored two runs. Sophomore Alexys Antal and Bingham each scored two runs, as well.

In the circle, junior Emma Jones picked up the win as she tossed 5.2 innings and allowed just two earned runs on seven hits. She struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Game 2 - UF-LMU Box Score (L 3-1)

The second game of the day did not go as well for the Oilers who were taking on the event host, the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters.

After leaving two runners stranded in the top of the first, Findlay allowed a run in the bottom of the second to fall behind 1-0. Later, in the top of the fourth, the Oilers tied the game at 1-1 when Bredel, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning, came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Bingham.

Two runs by Lincoln Memorial in the bottom of the fourth provided a two-run cushion.

The top of the sixth provided a comeback chance for Findlay when, after a lineout to begin the inning, a walk, hit-by-pitch, foul out, and single loaded the bases with two outs. The Railsplitters escaped with the bases loaded by coaxing a fielder's choice groundout.

Findlay finished with one run on five hits in the game while LMU had three runs on four hits. The Oilers committed one error.

Sophomore Alexys Antal was the losing pitcher in the game, throwing all six innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits. She struck out seven.

Findlay wraps up its' trip south with games against Ferris State and Purdue Northwest tomorrow, Feb. 4.