Lebanon, IL - The University of Findlay baseball team split a doubleheader against McKendree University that concluded on Friday, Feb. 20 in Lebanon, Illinois. The first game of the series started on Thursday, Feb. 19, but was delayed due to weather. That game finished today and was followed immediately by the second game. The split brings the Oilers' record to 2-4 on the year, while the Bearcats sit at 3-5.

Game 1 (W 14-6)

 In the opener, the Oilers showed off their offensive firepower, pounding out 15 hits and scoring 14 runs to pull away for a comfortable victory.

Findlay jumped out to an early 4-1 lead by the end of the second inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Aiden Booth. McKendree kept the game close in the early frames, cutting the deficit to 5-4 by the end of the fourth inning. However, the Oilers answered with a pair of runs in the fifth thanks, in part, to a two-run blast by Isaac Ramos to keep the Bearcats at arms length.

That is when a lightning delay caused a delay and, due to no lights at the facility, the game had to be halted and resumed on Friday.

Findlay's best offensive innings came late in the game, officially putting the contest out of reach with a four-run outburst in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth to secure the 14-6 win.

Booth went 2-for-5 in the game with a double, a home run, and two RBI. Casey Maruniak had two hits, including a double, an RBI, and two stolen bases, while Mason Myers added a double of his own.

Starting pitcher Carson Mellott was solid on the hill, throwing 4.0 innings and allowing four earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out six. Colin Becker was dominant in long relief and picked up the win, starting his outing on Friday as the game continued. He pitched the final five innings and allowing just one run while striking out seven.

Game 2 (L 13-1 | 7 inn.)

McKendree flipped the script in the second game, keeping the Findlay bats quiet and using a massive fourth inning to run away with a 13-1 victory in a game shortened to seven innings.

After McKendree plated a run in the second and two in the third, the Bearcats erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The huge frame was fueled by a grand slam, giving McKendree a commanding 10-0 lead. Findlay scored its lone run in the top of the fifth inning, but McKendree responded with three more runs in the bottom half of the frame to cap the scoring.

Maruniak was a bright spot for the Oilers offensively, recording two of the team's four hits and adding a pair of stolen bases. Nick Palm added a triple and Ramos chipped in with a double to account for the rest of the team's hits. Starting pitcher Aidan Kiessling took the loss, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out six.

The Oilers and Bearcats will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 21.