Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, April 20 at the hands of the Walsh Cavaliers. The opener ended with a score of 8-6 while the second game ended 3-1. With those two defeats, the Oilers fall to 20-17 on the year with a 14-8 record in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) while Walsh improves to 23-12 on the year and 14-6 in the league.
Game 1
Despite the final outcome, it was the Oilers who took control early in the day, scoring five runs in the bottom of the second inning to get things going. Freshman Luke Senften started the inning with a double and came in to score on a single by senior Andrew Micale. Back-to-back singles by freshman Nick Palm and senior Cole Kwiatkowski loaded the bases and a walk to senior Aiden Lao made the score 2-0. A third run scored on a fielder's choice, then the big hit of the inning, a two-RBI triple by sophomore Casey Maruniak, put the home team ahead by five.
It did not take long for the Cavs to answer, however, plating four runs of their own in the following half-inning to make the score 5-4 in favor of Findlay. Walsh would tie the game at five one inning later.
An RBI double by senior Nate Brooks in the fifth put the Oilers ahead again at 6-5, but it would be their last lead of the day as the visitors tied the game in the sixth and took a two-run lead in the eighth.
The Oilers did have their chances, however, stranding a pair of runners in each of the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings.
Senior Sebastian Jones came out of the bullpen and suffered the loss, throwing 2.1 innings of relief and allowing two runs on two hits. Senior Logan Bragg started and threw 5.2 innings, giving up six earned on seven hits. He walked three and struck out six.
Findlay outhit the Cavaliers 12-10 in the game and were led by Lao, Maruniak, Brooks, Senften, and Palm who all had two hits. Maruniak, who had a double and a triple in the contest, led the team with two RBI and had a run scored.
Game 2
The nightcap featured a pitcher-friendly contest as both teams struggled to make things happen at the plate, but it was Walsh that did just enough to earn the win.
Walsh was the first to threaten, loading the bases with no outs in the top of the second inning. Starting pitcher, sophomore Ethan Mohr, settled down and coaxed an infield fly and two strikeouts to escape the frame unscathed.
It was not until the top of the fourth inning that someone finally scored as the Cavs scored three runs, two of which came on a two-RBI triple to right center.
Findlay finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth when Lao launched a two-out home run over the wall in deep right center to make the score 3-1. That hit was the second and final hit of the game for Findlay, both of which belonged to Lao, the Oilers' leadoff hitter.
Mohr took the loss on the mound, falling to 2-2 on the year. He threw six solid innings, giving up three runs, one of which was earned. He walked four and struck out nine in a 113-pitch effort.
Lao ended the day with four hits to lead the offense.
Findlay and Walsh will wrap up their four-game series on Sunday, April 21 with another doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.
