Cincinnati, Ohio - The University of Findlay baseball team returned to Xavier University on Sunday, Feb. 23, this time taking on regional foe Lewis University in a doubleheader.  Similar to last week, the Oilers would come out firing in the first game of the day, winning by a score of 16-9.  However, Findlay would struggle to get going into the second game, losing by a score of 4-9.  With the split today, the Oilers now stand at 2-2 on the young season.  Meanwhile, the Flyers start their season with a record of 1-1.

Game 1 (16-9)
It would be an offensive explosion for the Orange and Black in the first game of the day, as they would record an impressive 14 hits, leading to the team reaching the 16 run mark for the second time already this season.  The Oilers would waste no time, getting on the board in the first inning by way of a Keelan Daniel single to left center, which would score Luke Senften who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.

Lewis would respond with one of their own in the top of the second, but this would not halt the Oilers as they would put up a five spot in the bottom half of the inning.  After a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases, Mike Sciortino legged out an infield single to give Findlay the lead.  Opening the floodgates was sophomore Nick Palm, who would follow up with a base clearing double down the left field line.  Finishing off the inning was Luke Senften, who singled home Palm the very next at-bat.

The Oilers would pour it on the rest of the game, including a seven run bottom of the fourth.  Three of the runs in the inning would come from an Aiden Booth triple, giving him his first three RBIs of the season.

Leading the way for the Oilers offense was Palm, who recorded four RBIs on three hits.  Ryan Thompson and Casey Maruniak, along with Booth and Sciortino would all record two hits in the game.

Graduate Student Logan Bragg would pick up the win on the mound, raising his record to 2-0 on the year.  He would go five strong innings and strike out five Lewis hitters.  Recording their first career appearances on the mound were freshman Kole Maxwell and Sebastian Stevens, who would finish off the last two innings of play.

Game 2 (4-9)
Coming off a strong offensive performance in the first game, the Oilers offense would struggle in the second.  Through the first three innings of play, the game remained scoreless.  The Flyers would finally break through in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a throwing error on a potential double play ball.  Ethan Mohr, who would get the start for Findlay, was not able to tightrope out of danger like previous innings, allowing four Lewis runs on just one hit.

Lewis would tack on three more runs just two innings later, once again taking advantage of an error by the Oilers.  Also aiding the Flyers was four base hits in the inning.
Trailing by nine in the last inning of play, the Oilers were able to find their way on the scoreboard.  They would score four runs in the last inning, including a two run home run by freshman Garrett Given.  The home run by Given came on the first pitch of the first at-bat in his college career.

Taking the loss on the mound for Findlay was Mohr, who would have three earned runs on four hits in four innings of work.  

Up Next
The Oilers will be back in action tomorrow to conclude their series against the Flyers.  The games will once again take place at Xavier University, with first pitch slated for 11 am.