Canton, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team swept a doubleheader against Malone University on Sunday, March 15 in Canton, Ohio, concluding a four-game series. The Oilers won the day's opener by a score of 7-2 before erupting for a 19-6 victory in the nightcap. The sweep gives Findlay a series victory, winning three of the four games, and brings their overall record to 11-9 on the year and 3-1 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play, while Malone falls to 11-7 (1-3 G-MAC). The Oilers have now beaten the Pioneers in 18 of the last 19 games.
Game 1 (W 7-2)
In the opener, Malone struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but it was all Findlay from there. The Oilers got on the board with a single run in the second inning before taking the lead for good with a three-run fourth inning. Findlay put the game out of reach by adding three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to secure the 7-2 win.
Trailing 2-0, a double in the second by Garrett Given put Findlay on the board and two innings later, an RBI single by Isaac Ramos tied the game.
The highlight of the offense came in the sixth inning when Aiden Booth blasted a three-run home run to left field, bringing home Ramos and Gavyn Smith. Ramos had a big game at the plate with three hits, while Booth recorded two hits, a double and a home run, and drove in five runs.
On the mound, Aidan Kiessling (2-3) got the win and threw 4.0 innings, allowing just a single earned run while striking out two. Becker slammed the door with a scoreless three innings of relief, allowing just two hits.
Game 2 (W 19-6)
The Findlay bats caught fire in the second game of the doubleheader, racking up 18 hits, the most in a game in two years, to coast to a massive 19-6 victory in eight innings. The two teams traded two runs each in the first inning, but the Oilers quickly pulled away, adding two runs in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth, and three in the fifth.
After a scoreless sixth, the Oilers poured it on late, scoring three runs in the seventh and five more in the massive eighth inning. The eighth-inning outburst was highlighted by a three-run home run to center field from Drew Tucker, an RBI double down the right-field line from Mason Myers, and a sacrifice fly from Garrett Given.
Drew Tucker had a big day, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, the first of his career, a double, three runs scored, and a game-high five RBIs. Keelan Daniel had two hits, including a triple, two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base.
Casey Maruniak continue his strong senior season, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored, three RBIs, and a stolen base, while Mason Myers went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored, and two RBIs.
Aiden Booth and Luke Senften also contributed multi-hit games, with Booth driving in three runs and Senften ripping a double and scoring twice. Isaac Ramos had two hits, drew two walks and was hit by a pitcher, scoring three runs, and driving in two. Gavyn Smith and Nick Palm rounded out the offensive clinic, both recording hits, RBIs, and runs scored.
On the mound, David Jimenez started the game for the Oilers, tossing the first 3.1 innings and allowing five earned runs on seven hits while striking out two. Sebastian Stevens (1-1) earned the win with a brilliant long-relief appearance, completely shutting down the Malone offense by throwing 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three. Camdon Tuttle entered the game in the eighth, tossing a scoreless inning of relief to close out the dominant 19-6 victory and seal the series win.
Findlay is back on the diamond on Tuesday, March 17 with a trip north to take on Division I Bowling Green State University. That game will start at 3:00 pm.
