Findlay, Ohio - The University of Findlay softball team played in Findlay for the first time this season at Liberty-Benton High School on Thursday, March 12. The Oilers took on Saginaw Valley State in a double header on Thursday, March 12. Findlay dropped both games to move to 12-5 on the season while SVSU improved to 10-8. 

Game 1 (L 6-2)

In the first game, Findlay took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Annika Bredel reached base on a walk before senior Alexys Antal drove her home with an RBI double to left-center to make it 1-0. Saginaw Valley responded in the second with a solo home run to even the score.

The Oilers went back in front in the third inning when Bredel launched a solo home run to left-center to give Findlay a 2-1 advantage. The Cardinals answered again in the fourth with another solo homer to tie the contest at 2-2.

The game remained even until the sixth inning when Saginaw Valley broke through with a four-run inning, highlighted by a three-run double, to take control of the game. Findlay was unable to respond in the final innings as the Cardinals secured the 6-2 win.

Offensively, Antal led the Oilers with two hits and an RBI while Bredel scored both runs and added the home run. Findlay totaled six hits in the contest compared to eight for Saginaw Valley.

In the circle, Antal started and pitched four innings allowing two runs on five hits. Sophomore Taylor Post took the loss in relief, throwing three innings.

Game 2 (L14-9)

In the second game of the double header, Saginaw Valley jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but Findlay quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning. After loading the bases, freshman Sophie Retton delivered a two-RBI double to left field before junior Joslynne Frazier added a sacrifice fly and junior Anna Jones followed with an RBI single to give the Oilers a 4-3 advantage.

The Cardinals answered with two runs in the second to regain the lead, but Findlay evened the score again when Annika Bredel launched a solo home run in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-5. Saginaw Valley edged back ahead in the fourth with a solo homer before sophomore Abbi Poths responded for the Oilers with a solo shot of her own in the bottom half to tie the contest at 6-6.

The turning point came in the fifth inning when Saginaw Valley scored five runs to build an 11-6 lead. Findlay chipped away in the sixth after sophomore Meghan Heinsman reached on a dropped fly ball that brought home two runs to cut the deficit to 11-8.

The Cardinals added three more runs in the seventh to extend their lead before Frazier capped the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, but the Oilers could not complete the comeback.

Offensively, Bredel led the Oilers with three hits and three runs scored. Retton and Frazier each recorded two hits and two RBI, while graduate student Cassie Warner also had two hits. Poths added a home run and an RBI, and Jones drove in a run as part of Findlay's 12-hit effort. 

The Oilers will be back in action on Saturday, March 14 at Findlay High School. Findlay will look to return to the win column as they take on Davenport in another double header.