Findlay, Ohio - The University of Findlay softball team continued its' torrid start to the 2025 season, improving to 7-1 on the year with a pair of wins against perennial powerhouse Wayne State University on Friday, Feb. 28. The Oilers won the opener 11-6 before taking the nightcap by a score of 2-1, rallying in the late innings of both games to secure the wins. Findlay High School's Ammons Field was the host to Friday's contests.

Game 1 (11-6)
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Oilers saw the Warriors get off to a red-hot start.  They would start the scoring early with a two run no doubt home run in the top of the first inning.  In the very next inning, they would start with back-to-back solo shots to grow their lead to 4-0.  
 
The Findlay offense struggled to break through early, leaving four runners on base in the first two innings of play.  However, the Oilers would not give in, finally cracking the zero in the run column in the bottom of the fourth.  Leading off the inning were juniors Aurora Lescody and Alexys Antal, who both reached by way of a single.  The very next batter Kora Navarro doubled to right center to bring in Lescody.  Finishing off the scoring would be Avery Flynn, who had a two RBI single to put the score at 3-4.
 
Once again Wayne State was able to connect on the long ball, this time being a two-run shot in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to three runs.
 
The Oilers would yet again not shy away, coming right back in the bottom half of the inning and responding with two runs of their own.  These runs were a product of Joslynne Frazier, who roped the Orange and Black's first home run of the game over the fence in right center.  After closing the gap to just one run, Findlay would blow it open in the bottom of the sixth, scoring six runs to make the score 11-6.  
 
Closing the door in the top of the seventh for the Oilers was Kayla Dykin, who threw 1.2 innings in relief of Antal.  In those innings Dykin allowed no Warrior hits along with recording two strikeouts.  Dykin would earn the win on the mound, making it the 14th of her career.
 
Game 2 (2-1)
With game one being a high scoring shootout, game two turned out to be quite the opposite.  Both the Oilers and the Warriors would be held scoreless through the first four innings of play.  In these four innings, Findlay would only manage to record two hits while Wayne State could only come up with one.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Warriors would finally break the ice with a solo home run to center field, taking a 1-0 lead.  The Oilers would respond right away in the bottom half of the inning, as pinch hitter Jillian Baracz tied the game up with a single to center, bringing in freshman Abbi Poths who singled to lead off the inning.
 
The difference in the game would be a home run by Annika Bredel, as the junior led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo shot to give the Oilers the 2-1 lead.  For Bredel, this was her second home run of the season and the 15th of her career.
 
Picking up the win on the mound for the Oilers was senior Emma Jones, who threw four innings in relief of Dykin.  Both Findlay pitchers shined in the game, as Jones only allowed one run and two hits, also recording two strikeouts.  Meanwhile, Dykin would allow no runs and only one hit in her three innings of work.
 
Up Next
The Oilers will be back in action on Thursday, Mar. 6 when they take on Pitt Johnstown.  This will be the first game of the Oilers' Spring break trip in Clermont Florida, where they will be playing ten games.  First pitch will be at 9 am.