Cincinnati, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team split a double header against Wayne State on Saturday, Feb. 28 in Cincinnati, Ohio at Hayden Field on the campus of Xavier University. The Oilers won the days' opener by a score of 6-2 before falling 6-4 in the nightcap. Those two games give UF a record of 5-6 on the year while Wayne State moves to 9-2.
Game 1 (W 6-2)
After two scoreless innings, the Oilers' offense broke through in the top of the third. Keelan Daniel hit a one-out single to left center, and Luke Senften immediately followed by launching a two-run home run to right field, giving Findlay a 2-0 lead. Wayne State cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the third with a solo homer.
Findlay responded with more power in the top of the fourth inning. Following a walk by Nick Palm, Casey Maruniak belted a two-run home run to the opposite field, extending the Oilers' advantage to 4-1. The Warriors answered with another solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, but it would be their final run of the game.
The Oilers tacked on another run in the fifth inning. Daniel was hit by a pitch, stole second, and was later driven in when Mike Sciortino reached on an RBI fielder's choice. Findlay scored its final insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Gavyn Smith crossed the plate on a throwing error by the Wayne State third baseman.
Starting pitcher Ethan Mohr (1-0) earned the win for the Oilers in his first start of the season. Mohr tossed 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on just three hits while striking out four batters and walking one. Colin Becker was dominant in relief, shutting the door on the Warriors by pitching 2.0 scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and striking out three to secure the 6-2 victory.
Offensively, Senften and Maruniak led the way, each recording a home run and two RBIs. Daniel also made a major impact, recording a hit, a stolen base, and scoring two runs.
Game 2 (L 6-4)
After three scoreless innings to start the second game of the day, Game 3 of the series, Wayne State got on the board first with a single run in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI double.
The Oilers responded in a big way in the top of the fifth, erupting for four runs to take the lead. After loading the bases, Nick Palm lined an RBI single to right field to score Mick Sciortino and tie the game. Casey Maruniak followed with the biggest hit of the day, ripping a three-run double through the left side that brought home Palm, Drew Tucker, and Keegan Snyder, giving Findlay a 4-1 advantage.
However, the lead was short-lived as Wayne State answered with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the fifth inning.
Findlay threatened to rally in the seventh, putting two runners on base, but was unable to bring them home to tie the game.
On the mound, starting pitcher Carson Mellott took a no-decision, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits while striking out two batters. Connor Evanich (1-1) suffered the loss in relief, tossing the final 2.0 innings and surrendering two runs on three hits with one strikeout.
Offensively, Palm led the Oilers with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, adding an RBI and a run scored. Tucker also enjoyed a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Maruniak anchored the run production with a pair of doubles and three RBIs.
The two teams meet again tomorrow in Cincinnati for the series finale.
