Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay softball team lost a pair of Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) games on Sunday, April 7 at the hands of the Ohio Dominican Panthers. Both games were low-scoring affairs as the first game ended 3-1 in favor of ODU and the second was a 2-0 final, also in favor of the Panthers. With the two losses, the Oilers fall back to the .500 mark at 17-17 on the year with a 4-8 record in the conference. ODU improves to 24-8 and 12-4 in the G-MAC.
Game 1 (L 3-1)
Taking on the team that leads the conference with a team ERA of just 2.14 this season, the Oilers knew runs would be at a premium on Sunday afternoon.
ODU was first to score, picking up a run on a sacrifice fly in the second inning of the opener to take a 1-0 lead, but Findlay rallied for a score of their own in the bottom half of the frame.
Sophomore Alexys Antal walked and advanced on a single by senior Kaitlynn Briggs. Antal pushed the pace when, on a strikeout, her large lead from second forced an attempted pickoff by the Panthers' catcher. The ball sailed into center field allowing Antal to move to third. Junior Hannah Baker then picked up a bunt single, scoring Antal and tying the game at 1-1. However, it would be Findlay's last run of the day.
Ohio Dominican added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to build a 3-1 advantage.
Findlay did get a leadoff single in the seventh from junior Cassie Warner, but she was doubled off on a line drive. A ground out ended the game.
Senior starter Molly Pfiffner threw well but still suffered the defeat in the circle. She tossed 4.1 innings and allowed two runs on three hits. She walked three and struck out two.
The Oilers got singles from Briggs, Warner, Baker, and sophomore Jenna Poulson in the game. Baker had the lone RBI.
Game 2 (L 2-0)
Another pitcher's dual was the result in the nightcap and, again, it was ODU that did just enough on offense to secure the win.
The Panthers scored single runs in the fourth and seventh innings.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Briggs walked and, with two outs, sophomore Kayla Dykin singled to put runners on first and second. Junior Alissa Davis, who entered the game as a pinch hitter due to an injury sustained in Game 1, ripped a single to right that would appear to load the bases, but freshman Anna Jones, who pinch ran for Briggs, was thrown out at home trying to score, ending the game.
Findlay again finished with four hits in the game, getting knocks from Baker, Dykin, Poulson, and Davis.
Antal threw for the Oilers and went 5.0 innings, allowing just one run on two hits. She walked two and struck out two, taking the loss as the pitcher-of-record.
The Oilers will head to Cedarville University on Wednesday, April 10 for a doubleheader, making the games up that were postponed earlier in the year.
