Cincinnati, Ohio - The University of Findlay baseball was back in action for the second day of their doubleheader against Lewis University on Monday, Feb. 24.  With the help of some stellar pitching and some big time hits, the Oilers would sweep the day and earn their first series win of the year.  With the two wins, Findlay sees their record rise to 4-2.  Meanwhile, the Flyers finish their first series of the year with a 1-3 record.

Game 1 (3-2)
In the first game of the doubleheader, both teams struggled to get going offensively.  It would not be until the bottom of the fourth when the Flyers got on the board with the sacrifice fly to right field.  Just one inning later, they would add another also by way of a sacrifice fly, putting the Orange and Black in a 2-0 hole.

Still without a hit going into the top of the sixth inning, the Oilers were in desperate need of a spark.  Providing that spark was sophomore Luke Senften, who erased the zero in the hit column with a two out single.  Following Senften was junior Casey Maruniak, who would rip a double into the left field gap to score a run.  Keeping the two out rally going, Keelan Daniel singled to bring in Maruniak and knot the game at 2-2.

Strong on the mound was Findlay's Carson Mellott, who pitched six innings.  Mellott's effort was a large reason the Oilers were able to stay within striking distance despite early offensive struggles.  He would finish his day limiting the Flyers to two runs, with only one of them being earned.

The game would remain deadlocked through seven innings, sending the game into extras.  Relieving Mellott in the seventh was Colin Becker.  The junior would throw five shutout innings  in relief, only allowing two hits and striking out three Lewis hitters.

Breaking the tie in the top of the 11th inning was Oiler's first baseman Gavyn Smith, who sent a no doubt solo home run over the left field wall to give Findlay a 3-2 lead.  The home run was Smith's first of the year and the second in his career.  The solo shot proved to be the difference, as Becker would retire the Flyers in order in the bottom half of the inning to give the Oilers the win in an extra inning thriller.

Game 2 (2-0)
Similar to the first game of the day, some strong pitching on both sides caused some struggles offensively.  Toeing the rubber for the Oilers was sophomore Dylan Rouse.  In his first appearance of the year Rouse shined, throwing six shutout innings and only allowing four hits.

Breaking the ice was Aiden Booth, who doubled down the right field line in the top of the fourth inning, scoring Maruniak who reached on an infield single to lead off the inning.  Findlay would tack one more insurance run in the top of the sixth when Maruniak sent a solo shot over the left field fence.

After Rouse issued a walk to the Lewis lead-off hitter in the bottom of the last inning, freshman Camdon Tuttle came in to finish the job.  The freshman would shut the door, sitting down the next three Flyer batters in order to earn his first career save for the Oilers.

Up Next
The Orange and Black will be back in action next weekend when they travel to West Virginia to take on Charleston University in a four game series.  The two games will take place on Saturday Mar. 1, with first pitch currently set for 4 pm.