Championship Replay on the Great Midwest Digital Network (Produced by PulseTV)
Akron, Ohio – The University of Findlay softball team saw a memorable run in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament come to an end on Saturday, May 4 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. The Oilers, which have now been the tournament runners-up in each of the past two seasons, fell in the championship game by a score of 2-1 at the hands of the Northwood Timberwolves.
It was the second time in the tournament that these two teams met as the Oilers, seeded fifth, and Timberwolves, seeded fourth, battled in the first round.
The defeat gives Findlay a record of 34-20 on the season, the program's third consecutive 30-win season. It is also the second-most wins in a season in program history, though the season is not officially over as the Oilers, with a deep run in the conference tournament, have potentially put themselves in the conversation to participate in the NCAA Midwest Regional. That selection will be revealed on Monday, May 6 at 10 am.
Saturday's championship game was a nail biter throughout as two of the best pitchers in the conference dueled through two perfect innings to start the contest.
Findlay was first to threaten, using a one-out walk and a single in the third inning to put two runners on base. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position with one out, but a hard line drive by senior Avery Shepherd was snagged at short and a fly out to center ended the threat.
It was not until the fourth inning that Northwood broke through. A leadoff walk and error put a pair of runners on. After a sacrifice bunt, the Timberwolves notched their first hit of the game, an RBI single that put the team from Midland, Michigan on top 1-0. Antal did limit the damage, coaxing a pair of outs to end the frame with just a single run on the board.
The top of the sixth inning provided drama and was a scoring opportunity the Oilers had not come across since that third inning. An error allowed junior Cassie Warner to reach base and a single by sophomore Annika Bredel put two on for Antal, who was later named to the conference all-tournament team. Antal delivered with an RBI single, tying the game. On the next play, with Bredel at third, Findlay put on the squeeze play with senior Kaitlynn Briggs at the plate. She dropped a bunt in front of the plate with Bredel barreling down the line. Northwood pitcher and tournament MVP Emily Cox fielded the ball with her glove and, in one motion, flipped to her catcher who swiped a tag on Bredel. An emphatic out call on a close play at the plate did not end the inning, but was a gut punch in a game where precious few scoring opportunities would arise. A pop out ended the inning, one in which the Oilers felt could have gone differently.
Extra innings would eventually come as neither team could manage a run in the seventh inning.
Findlay went 1-2-3 in the eighth and, in the bottom of the inning, Northwood got a leadoff double and ground out, putting the winning run on third. The next two batters were pitched around, bringing the force at all bases into play. On a 3-2 count, Northwood's Madison Jordan was hit by a pitch, ending the game in a walk off.
Antal started the game in the circle and threw 5.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit. She walked two and struck out three in a gutsy effort.
Findlay awaits its' postseason fate on Monday morning. Should their name not be called, another experience with a deep tournament run and a young core of talent will certainly place the Oilers as contenders again in the future.
The Oilers had a trio of players named to the 2024 All-Tournament Team as senior Avery Shepherd, sophomore Alexys Antal, and senior Alissa Davis were each named.
